Soil Nematode Communities in Managed and Natural Temperate Forest

Forest management and the stand age play key roles in determining composition of soil biota, including nematodes. We analysed effect interaction between stands natural forest influenced by human activity on nematode communities, necessary for realistically assessing specific potentials soils, plant protection, management, land use management. Nematode communities were evaluated compared managed beech spruce forests three classes (0–20, 40–60, 100–120 years old) an unmanaged old-growth temperate forest. A total 51 genera found forests. The number was highest (46) European forests, dominated Rhabditis Filenchus. In contrast, lowest (37) a Norway forest, but where abundance due mostly to high bacterivorous nematodes such as Acrobeloides, Plectus, Rhabditis. had biomass herbivorous order Tylenchida, especially Filenchus, Malenchus, Paratylenchus, identified predators. genera, abundance, biomass, diversity index young 0–20-year-old stands, 100–120-year-old stands. Enrichment, structure, basal indices both ages