Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.0
2.1
Journals
Diversity
Special Issues
Distribution, Biodiversity, and Ecology of Nematodes
share announcement

Distribution, Biodiversity, and Ecology of Nematodes

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 918

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Elisa Baldrighi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biology, University of Nevada Reno, Mailstop 314, Reno, NV 89557, USA
Interests: deep-sea ecology; benthic ecology; meiofauna; nematodes; environmental impact
Dr. Eleonora Grassi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomolecular Sciences (DiSB), University of Urbino “Carlo Bo”, Campus Scientifico E. Mattei, 61029 Urbino, Italy
Interests: meiofauna; soil nematodes; marine nematodes; biodiversity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nematodes are among the most abundant and versatile metazoans on Earth, inhabiting diverse ecosystems ranging from terrestrial soils and aquatic environments to extreme habitats. This Special Issue, “Distribution, Biodiversity, and Ecology of Nematodes”, seeks to highlight research on their diversity, distribution patterns, and essential contributions to ecosystem functions. As bioindicators, nematodes play crucial roles in nutrient cycling, soil health maintenance, and energy flow across trophic levels, making them valuable for assessing ecosystem quality and human impact.

Beyond their ecological importance, nematodes are established model organisms in fields such as evolutionary and biomedical research. This Special Issue welcomes interdisciplinary contributions that explore nematode taxonomic diversity and functional ecology, encouraging innovative biodiversity assessment methodologies. Through advancing research across ecological and applied dimensions, we aim to deepen our understanding of phylum Nematoda's role in ecosystems and its broader contributions to scientific discovery.

Dr. Elisa Baldrighi
Dr. Eleonora Grassi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diversity is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nematode diversity and distribution
  • ecosystem services
  • model organisms
  • environmental assessment
  • nematode ecology
  • soil and aquatic nematodes
  • adaptive strategies
  • anthropogenic impact
  • taxonomy and phylogeny
  • free living and parasite nematodes

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

27 pages, 5140 KiB  
Article
How Do Nematode Communities and Soil Properties Interact in Riparian Areas of Caatinga Under Native Vegetation and Agricultural Use?
by Juliana M. M. de Melo, Elvira Maria R. Pedrosa, Iug Lopes, Thais Fernanda da S. Vicente, Thayná Felipe de Morais and Mário Monteiro Rolim
Diversity 2025, 17(8), 514; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17080514 - 25 Jul 2025
Viewed by 314
Abstract
Global interest in nematode communities and their ecological relationships as unique and complex soil ecosystems has remarkably increased in recent years. As they have a representative role in the soil biota, nematodes present great potential to help understand soil health through analyzing their [...] Read more.
Global interest in nematode communities and their ecological relationships as unique and complex soil ecosystems has remarkably increased in recent years. As they have a representative role in the soil biota, nematodes present great potential to help understand soil health through analyzing their food chains in different environments. The objective of this study was to analyze the spatial and dynamic distributions of nematode communities and soil properties in two riparian areas of the Caatinga biome: one with native vegetation and the other with a history of agricultural use (modified). The study was carried out in a semi-arid region of Brazil in Parnamirim, PE. In both areas, sampling grids of 60 m × 40 m were established to obtain data on soil moisture, organic matter, particle size, electrical conductivity, and pH, as well as metabolic activity and ecological indices of nematode communities. There was a greater abundance and diversity of nematodes in riparian soils with native vegetation compared to in the modified area due to agricultural use and the dominance of exotic and invasive species. In both areas, bacterivores and plant-parasitic nematodes were dominant, with the genus Acrobeles and Tylenchorhynchus as the main contributors to the community. In the modified area, soil variables (fine sand, clay, and pH) positively influenced Fu4 and PP4 guilds, while in the area with native vegetation, moisture and organic matter exerted a greater influence on Om4, PP5, and Ba3 guilds. Kriging maps showed the soil variables were more concentrated in the center in the areas with native vegetation, in contrast to the area with modified vegetation, where they concentrated more on the margins. The functional guilds in the native vegetation did not exhibit a gradual increase towards the regions close to the riverbank, unlike in the modified area. The presence of plant-parasitic nematodes, especially of the genus Tylenchorhynchus, indicates the need for greater attention in the management of these ecosystems. The study contributes to understanding the interactions between nematode communities and soil in riparian areas of the Caatinga biome, emphasizing the importance of preserving native vegetation to maintain the diversity and balance of this ecosystem, in addition to highlighting the need for appropriate management practices in areas with a history of agricultural use, aiming to conserve soil biodiversity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Distribution, Biodiversity, and Ecology of Nematodes)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1388 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Different Agricultural Practices on Nematode Biodiversity on Tomato- and Lettuce-Growing Periods Across Two Consecutive Years
by Giada d’Errico and Silvia Landi
Diversity 2025, 17(8), 501; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17080501 - 22 Jul 2025
Viewed by 302
Abstract
Protecting the soil ecosystem’s functioning is one of the main goals of recent regulations of chemicals. It is important to take soil biodiversity into account when designing cropping systems and measuring their impacts. Our main objective was to evaluate the effects of an [...] Read more.
Protecting the soil ecosystem’s functioning is one of the main goals of recent regulations of chemicals. It is important to take soil biodiversity into account when designing cropping systems and measuring their impacts. Our main objective was to evaluate the effects of an organic amendment on soil nematode biodiversity compared to two years of fumigation. The plot-trial was conducted on tomato and lettuce plants under greenhouse, and free-living nematodes were used as bio-indicators of soil health. Treatments included a soil fumigant (applied once or twice over time), water control, and an organic substance. Soil samplings were carried out to determine the Meloidogyne incognita reproduction factor and the soil nematode community analysis using soil biological indicators. Data showed that soil fumigation clearly made the soil increasingly dependent on chemicals. Furthermore, fumigants suppressed pests and pathogens as well as their natural antagonists, causing a lack of biodiversity. While soils treated with organic matter respond slowly to stressors, they are progressively more suppressive thanks to biodiversity enrichment. Nematodes have proven to be useful indicators of the soil biota in response to biotic or abiotic disturbances. Their species richness and functional diversity make them valid bioindicators of soil management impact. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Distribution, Biodiversity, and Ecology of Nematodes)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop