NEMATODE FUNCTIONAL TRAITS

Nematodes are amazing animals. They inhabit a great diversity of habitats and exhibit a large diversity of trophic forms. They feed on soil organic matter, bacteria, fungi, protists, rotifers, enchytraeids, archaea, chromista, chlorophyta and vascular plants. Some species are also parasites of invertebrates and vertebrates. A lot of information concerning nematodes can be found on NEMAPLEX website developed by Howard Ferris. Here, I present my project :  a compilation of a high number of nematode traits that can be used in ecological studies to assess and understand the relationships between nematode community structure and ecosystem functions.