Profiling soil free-living nematodes in the Namib Desert, Namibia

摘要: Functional structure and diversity of soil free-living nematodes in a desert environment depend on plant gender sampling site. The objective this study was to compare the composition, abundance tropic group upper 0–10 cm layer under male female Acanthosicyos horridus Welw. ex Hook. f. plants inter-shrub open areas (control) Namib Desert, Namibia April 2015. Soil moisture, organic matter (OM) pH also analyzed. Free-living were extracted from 100 g using Baermann funnel procedure, total number counted microscope. Community composition analyzed 18S rDNA sequences. Results indicated that 67 groups, including 64 species, 2 genera 1 family identified. Feeding behavior 58 species identified as follows: 15 bacteria-feeding 12 fungi-feeding 10 plant-parasite 5 omnivorous-predator 8 animal-parasite invertebrate-parasite 3 non-free-living nematodes, known marine species. Moreover, found be affected by locations gender, community density these strongly influenced OM content. Result confirmed spatial location cover main factors influencing nematodes. molecular tools very useful defining richness In conclusion, results elucidated importance biotic variables determining Namibia.