Distribution and characterization of nematodes in above-ground microhabitats in a natural pristine cedar forest in Yakushima Island, Japan

Nematode communities in old-growth cedar forests, such as those found on Yakushima Island, exhibit distinct compositions and trophic structures depending on microhabitats like fallen trees with mosses and living barks. A study revealed that bacterivorous nematodes dominate decaying barks (45%), while fungivorous nematodes thrive in living barks (61%). Predatory-omnivorous nematodes were most abundant in mossy environments (51%), particularly those with nitrogen-rich conditions, contrasting with the high carbon-to-nitrogen ratios in cedar trunks. This suggests that old-growth forests provide diverse microhabitats supporting specialized nematode taxa, highlighting their ecological significance in nutrient cycling and biodiversity.

Kitagami, Y., & Matsuda, Y. (2024). Distribution and characterization of nematodes in above-ground microhabitats in a natural pristine cedar forest in Yakushima Island, Japan. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 102(3), 264–271. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2023-0107