Abstract
This paper reviews the literature on surveys of meiofaunal abundance along organic pollution gradients and experimental mesocosm studies on meiofaunal communities in an attempt to account for the variable behaviour of the nematode-copepod (Ne/Co) ratio. It is concluded that differences in the habitat requirements of nematodes, mesobenthic and epi/endobenthic copepods affect the responses of these groups to organic pollution. The response is gradient dependent for all groups, but probably not monotonic, at least for nematodes. Examination of different sections of the pollution gradient by different authors has therefore produced quite different results. If these factors are taken into account the reported behaviour of the Ne/Co ratio is readily understood.
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