Population dynamics of a host-specific root-feeding cyst nematode and resource quantity in the root zone of a clonal grass

C.D. Van der Stoel, H. Duyts, W.H. Van der Putten

    Onderzoeksoutput: Bijdrage aan wetenschappelijk tijdschrift/periodieke uitgaveArtikelWetenschappelijkpeer review

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    Recent studies have suggested that root-feeding nematodes influence plant community dynamics, but few studies have investigated the population dynamics of the nematodes. In coastal foredunes, feeding-specialist cyst nematodes (Heterodera spp.) are dominant in the soil nematode community and greenhouse studies pointed at bottom-up control by their host plant. Here we examine the population dynamics of H. arenaria in the field in relation to resource quantity in the root zone of Ammophila arenaria (marram grass). Ammophila arenaria is a pioneer grass in mobile coastal foredunes of northwestern and Mediterranean Europe. Every year, the plant expands clonally into freshly deposited layers of wind-blown sand, followed by dispersal and build-up of the nematode population into the new root zone. In a newly developing root zone the first H. arenaria cysts were observed one month after the first new roots were detected, indicating that nematode dispersal is not limiting the initial establishment of new populati In deeper root zones the nematode abundance declines over time. Here, numbers of cysts were not related to root biomass, while numbers of eggs and juveniles inside the cysts were weakly related. This points at other factors than resource quantity, for example the quality of the roots or unsuitable abiotic environmental conditions that have a stronger influence on cyst numbers than resource quantity. We discuss how bottom-up control of cyst nematodes may indirectly protect the plant against harmf
    Originele taal-2Engels
    Pagina's (van-tot)651-659
    TijdschriftOikos
    Volume112
    Nummer van het tijdschrift3
    DOI's
    StatusGepubliceerd - 2006

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