Annual and long-term fluctuations of the nematode fauna in a Swedish Scots pine forest soil

Samples from an old Scots pine forest at Ivantjärnsheden in the middle of Sweden were used to study predictability and patterns of variation of soil nematode communities. There were two annual sampling series (1974–75 and 1977–78) and one long-term series sampled in September ten times over a period of 25 years. The abundance and the composition of the fauna fluctuated rather considerably in both the annual and long-term series. In the annual series abundance and species composition varied in a way which can partly be explained by changes in temperature and moisture. Total nematode abundance was influenced by soil water contents as indicated by co-variations with precipitation. Although the variations in abundance and fauna composition were large no systematic changes could be detected during 25 years. The differences in faunal structure between the two annual series were greater than between the annual and the long-term series.In all series there was a distinct vertical stratification of the fauna. In the superficial moss and litter layers species belonging to Adenophorea (Plectus) dominated. In deeper layers members of Rhabditida (Acrobeloides) contributed a greater proportion of the fauna. Variations of the annual series indicate that coexistence of different nematode species is facilitated by differences in response to temperature and moisture. The abundance of fungal and bacterial feeders changed in a regular way. During the summer the proportions of fungal and bacterial feeders were almost equal, but during the wet and cold winter the proportion of bacterial feeders increased. Rapidly growing bacterial feeding species belonging to Rhabditida were common in late summer and early autumn, whereas the more slowly growing bacterial feeders belonging to Adenophorea were most abundant during the winter. Although the community fluctuated rather much the average values indicated a rather high degree of predictability and also a high similarity with nematode faunas of other pine forest soils.     

Influence of clear-cutting and forest age on the nematode fauna in a Swedish pine forest soil

The abundance and composition of the soil nematode fauna in three seral stages of a pine forest chronosequence located in central Sweden was investigated. The aim of the study was to investigate faunal development during the forest cycle (120–160 years). Three sites, clear-cut 3–12 years before sampling but still without pine trees were compared to three sites with 10–130 year-old trees. Together, these provided sites that could be classified as clear-cut, young stand and mature forest. In most sites without trees and with a poor field layer vegetation, nematode abundance was much lower than in the forested plots. Similar major species/genera of nematodes were found in all age stages of the forest development. The development of the fauna could be related both to climatic shifts and to changes in production of food sources.The ratio of fungal to bacterial feeders and the proportions of two groups of bacterial feeders (Rhabditida BF and Adenophorea BF) varied in distinct ways related to soil layer and seral stage. Thus, in the clear-cut sites the proportion of fungal feeders was quite low. This was also the case with Rhabditida BF. These two groups also contributed a rather low proportion in the litter layer, whereas, their importance successively increased with increasing depth of the soil layers. Proportions of fungal feeding members of the Dorylaimida were highest in the 10–20 year-old stands. The effect of forest trees on nematodes was quite large and the faunal structure in sites with pine trees differed quite markedly from the sites without trees.Apparently, there are certain nematode species whose contribution to the fauna is greatest in the early tree-free stages, others are more abundant in the young forest and still others have their greatest abundance in the mature forest. There are also species whose abundance seems to be unaffected by forest age. Nematode abundance was correlated with the abundance of some other groups of soil organisms.     

Spatial analysis reveals differences in soil microbial community interactions between adjacent coniferous forest and clearcut ecosystems

Knowledge of how forest management influences soil microbial community interactions is necessary for complete understanding of forest ecology. In this study, soil microbial communities, vegetation characteristics and soil physical and chemical properties were examined across a rectangular 4.57 × 36.58 m sample grid spanning adjacent coniferous forest and clearcut areas. Based on analysis of soil extracted phospholipid fatty acids, total microbial biomass, fungi and Gram-negative bacteria were found to be significantly reduced in soil of the clearcut area relative to the forest. Concurrent with changes in microbial communities, soil macroaggregate stability was reduced in the clearcut area, while no significant differences in soil pH and organic matter content were found. Variography indicated that the range at which spatial autocorrelation between samples was evident (patch size) was greater for all microbial groups analyzed in the clearcut area. Overall, less spatial structure could be resolved in the forest. Variance decomposition using principal coordinates of neighbor matrices spatial variables indicated that soil aggregate stability and vegetation characteristics accounted for significant microbial community spatial variation in analyses that included the entire plot. When clearcut and forest areas were analyzed separately, different environmental variables (pH in the forest area and soil organic matter in the clearcut) were found to account for variation in soil microbial communities, but little of this variation could be ascribed to spatial interactions. Most microbial variation explained by different components of microbial communities occurred at spatial scales other than those analyzed. Fungi accounted for over 50% of the variation in bacteria of the forest area but less than 11% in the clearcut. Conversely, AMF accounted for significant variation in clearcut area, but not forest, bacteria. These results indicate broadly disparate controls on soil microbial community composition in the two systems. We present multiple lines of evidence pointing toward shifts in fungi functional groups as a salient mechanism responsible for qualitative, quantitative and spatial distribution differences in soil microbial communities.     

Effects of fungivorous and predatory arthropods on nematodes and tardigrades in microcosms with coniferous forest soil

Effects of fungivorous and predatory soil arthropods on free-living nematodes and tardigrades were studied in a factorial microcosm experiment. A stepwise increase in faunal complexity was obtained by adding soil arthropods to defaunated humus samples from an irrigated+fertilized and an untreated stand of Scots pine. The effects were assessed after 103 and 201 days at 15°C and a soil moisture content of 50% water-holding capacity. The study showed that a diverse community of fungivorous arthropods (collembola and oribatid mites), present in numbers similar to those in the field, reduced the abundance of nematodes. A complete community of fungivorous and predatory arthropods (e.g., gamasides, spiders, and cantharid larvae) further strengthened this repressive effect. Certain nematode genera were more affected than others. Tardigrades seemed to be efficient predators on nematodes, but their numbers were, in turn, strongly reduced by predatory arthropods. Because predatory arthropods fed on both nematodes and their tardigrade predators, the impact of arthropod predators on nematode regulation was greater than it appeared to be on the basis of nematode numbers. Humus type also interacted with the other factors. Nematode numbers were initially higher in the untreated humus than in the irrigated+fertilized humus. However, because tardigrade populations increased only in the untreated humus, nematode numbers decreased more in this humus than in the irrigated+fertilized humus. The study demonstrates that nematode abundance can be regulated by a number of types of interacting predators.     

Humusveränderungen nach Einbringung von Buche und Eiche in Kiefernreinbestände

Humus changes after introduction of beech and oak into Scots‐pine monocultures Medium‐ and long‐term (16 to 83 years) effects of an introduction of broadleaf‐tree species (Common beech [Fagus sylvatica] and European‐Sessile Oak [Quercus robur/petraea]) into mature Scots‐pine (Pinus sylvestris) stands on humus type and chemical properties of the Oh layer (pH value, base saturation, C : N ratio) were studied on 16 sites in Bavaria/Germany. The sites investigated covered a large range with respect to elevation, climate, parent material, and soil type. At most sites, the introduction of beech resulted in a significant change of the soil humus type from biologically inactive humus types to more active ones. The strongest changes occurred on the poorest sites, where forest floors under pure pine were particularly biologically inactive. In most cases, the changes in humus type were accompanied by significant increases in the pH value and the base saturation and significant decreases in the C : N ratio of the Oh layer. However, the latter effect was not noticed at most sites with initial C : N ratios higher than 30. In contrast to beech, the introduction of oak did not result in a systematic change of the humus type, the pH value, or the base saturation of the Oh layer. In spite of the considerable change of humus type under beech to biologically more active types, the introduction of broadleaf trees did not result in a systematic change of the thickness or the mass of the forest floor. A decrease in the mass of the Of layer was compensated by an increase of the Oh‐layer mass. All studied sites considered, the introduction of broadleaf trees into Scots‐pine monocultures resulted on average in an 8% decrease of the total amount of organic carbon (C_org) in the forest floor; the C_org amount in the uppermost 10 cm mineral soil increased by 9%. At 35% of all investigated sites, broadleaf tree introduction resulted in increased (+5% to +18%) topsoil (forest floor and uppermost 10 cm mineral soil) C_org stocks. At 30% of the sites, the stock changes were less than ±5%, and on 35% of all sites, soil C_org stocks decreased by –5% to –36%. The average change in the topsoil C_org stock for all studied sites was –5%. The introduction of beech into Scots‐pine monocultures resulted in an ecologically desired translocation of soil organic matter from the forest floor into the mineral topsoil. It is an effective and sustainable silvicultural measure to restore and revitalize acidified, nutrient‐depleted topsoils with biologically inactive humus types.     

Responses of co-occurring populations of Dendrobaena octaedra (Lumbricidae) and Cognettia sphagnetorum (Enchytraeidae) to soil pH, moisture and resource addition

Dendrobaena octaedra (Lumbricidae) and Cognettia sphagnetorum (Enchytraeidae) are the two most dominating soil invertebrates in terms of biomass in boreal coniferous forest soils. A microcosm experiment was set up in order to study the influence of pH, moisture and resource addition on D. octaedra and C. sphagnetorum when both species are simultaneously present. Two kinds of coniferous forest humus were used as substrate, pine stand humus (pH 4.2), and spruce stand humus (pH 4.6); in the third treatment the pine stand humus was adjusted with slaked lime (CaOH₂) to the same initial pH as the spruce stand humus. Each substrate was adjusted to water contents of 25%, 42.5% and 60% of WHC (referred to as ‘dry’, ‘moist’ and ‘wet’). In the second part of the experiment, spruce needle litter and birch leaf litter were separately added into the pine stand humus (‘moist’, unlimed) and compared with a control without litter. The microcosms were plastic jars with 75 g (d.m.) of humus, into which 4 specimens of D. octaedra and 70 specimens of C. sphagnetorum were added. D. octaedra showed the highest biomass and C. sphagnetorum the lowest biomass in the spruce stand humus with higher pH. Moisture did not affect earthworms, while C. sphagnetorum thrived best at the highest moisture. Addition of both kinds of litter increased the numbers and biomass of D. octaedra, while on C. sphagnetorum resource addition had little effect. The results help to explain the abundance of these two species in coniferous forests differing in soil acidity, moisture and fertility.     

Response of soil nematode communities to tree girdling in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest of southwest China

The impact of canopy photosynthates on soil microbial biomass and nematode trophic groups was studied in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest by performing a large-scale tree girdling experiment. Total fungal biomass was unaffected by tree girdling. Bacterial biomass differed significantly between the girdled and control plots in the mineral soil, but was not affected by girdling treatment in the humus layer. Girdling reduced total nematode density in the humus layer. The reduced fungivorous nematode density in girdled plots in the humus layer suggested a modified energy flow through the fungal based pathways. There were no differences in the abundance of bacterial-feeding, herbivorous and omnivorous-predatory nematodes between the girdled and control plots in both humus and mineral soil layers. This study provides direct evidence that the termination of belowground photosynthate-C allocation achieved by tree girdling affects soil nematodes, and that different trophic groups vary in their responses to the reduction of C efflux into the soil.     

Effects of sod-cutting on the nematode community of a secondary forest of Pinus sylvestris L.

Atmospheric S and N compounds accumulate in the surface layers of the forest soil environment, where they affect soil biota and nutrient availability for tree growth. In addition to measures to reduce the input of atmospheric deposition, removal of the ectorganic layers by sod-cutting may contribute to the recovery of the soil ecosystem. In this study, we examined the effects of sod-cutting on the nematode fauna of a Scots pine forest, 1 and 3 years after treatment. Sod-cutting reduced the total numbers of nematodes, nematode taxa, and Maturity Index. The first taxa that colonized the newly developing organic layers after sod-cutting had low colonizer-persister (c-p) values, and appeared to have originated from the tree canopy and mineral soil. Colonization, presumably from nearby untreated plots, was observed 3 years after the sod-cutting. The initial (after 1 year) nematode community of the new organic layer comprised hyphal-, bacterial-, and algal-feeding nematodes, whereas plant-feeders, predators, and omnivores were not detected. The composition of the nematode fauna in the ectorganic layers 15 and 39 months after sod-cutting was highly similar to that of the nematode fauna of the early stages of a primary succession of Scots pine forest in a reference area in the Netherlands. In the mineral soil only insect parasites were negatively affected by sod-cutting.     

亚热带常绿阔叶林迹地不同森林经营类型对土壤肥力的影响

常绿阔叶林迹地经营不同人工林类型使土壤容重增加了0.06～0.31g／cm3,土壤毛管孔限度、非毛管孔隙度、总孔限度分别降低了4.59～7.21百分点、3.95～10.98百分点、11.54～16.32百分点。6种森林类型土壤腐殖质、全N、全P含量均为A层高于B层,其中土壤腐殖质、全N平均含量顺序为:木荷与杉木混交＞鹅掌楸与杉木混交＞常绿阔叶林＞杉木＞鹅掌楸＞马尾松。土壤腐殖质与土壤全队总酚含量之间,全N与总酚含量之间相关系数分别为0.990、0.892、0.883,达权显著相关。6种森林类型中除马尾松林地土壤腐殖质HA／FA＜1外,其余5种森林土壤均为HA／FA＞1。木荷与杉木混交、鹅掌楸与杉木混交林土壤肥力明显好于单一树种栽培,而且有效地抑制了土壤多酚氧化酶活性。     

Effects of acidification and liming on feeding groups of nematodes in coniferous forest soils

Summary Nematodes were sampled in untreated, acidified, and limed plots in a Norway spruce (Fexboda) and a Scots pine (Norrliden) stand. At Fexboda, the total number of nematodes was significantly reduced after the acidification. This reduction was probably due to a shock effect, because the samples were taken only 5 months after an application of 200 kg H₂SO₄ ha^-1 to the forest floor. However, the root/fungal-feeding Aphelenchoides was not reduced, probably because it is more tolerant of high acid concentrations than most other nematodes. At Norrliden, where the samples were taken 7 years after the last application of H₂SO₄, no significant differences were found between the acidified and untreated plots. If the treatment with H₂SO₄ caused similar effects as at Fexboda, the results indicate a recovery of the nematode populations. Decreased predation from lumbricids rather than a recovery of microfloral populations probably allowed this recovery. No marked effect of lime, spread 2 (Fexboda) and 12 years (Norrliden) before the sampling on the numbers of any of the nematode feeding groups was found. This correlated with almost no change in bacterial biomass after liming, while the active fraction of fungal hyphae was unaffected by liming at Fexboda and reduced by liming at Norrliden. A tendency for decreasing numbers of all nematode feeding groups in the limed plots at Norrliden coincided with increasing numbers of lumbricids.     

Microbial community structure and characteristics of the organic matter in soils under Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies and Betula pendula at two forest sites

 Microbial biomass C (C_mic), C mineralization rate, phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles and community level physiological profiles (CLPPs) using Biolog were determined from the humus and mineral soil layers in adjacent stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) at two forest sites of different fertility. In addition, the Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectra were run on the samples for characterization of the organic matter. C_mic and C mineralization rate tended to be lowest under spruce and highest under birch, at the fertile site in all soil layers and at the less fertile site in the humus layer. There were also differences in microbial community structure in soils under different tree species. In the humus layer the PLFAs separated all tree species and in the mineral soil spruce was distinct from pine and birch. CLPPs did not distinguish microbial communities from the different tree species. The FTIR spectra did not separate the tree species, but clearly separated the two sites. Received: 3 December 1999     

辽西地区油松混交林抗蚀改土效益的研究

在辽西半干旱水土流失地区，为了防止土壤侵蚀和恢复地力，首先应营造水土保持林。油松阔叶混交林与油松纯林相比，在改善土壤理化性质，提高土壤抗蚀性有显著效果。与纯林相比，前者土壤含水量可提高１３－３０％，土壤有机质含量提高７．１－７６．４％，土壤微生物数量可增加１３．３９％，土壤容重减少６．８－１０％，土壤水稳性团聚体可提高２２．２－１２４．４％，土壤侵蚀率降低了６．６－２６．３％，本地区适宜选择的混交     

Tardigrade species composition in young soils and some aspects on life history of Macrobiotus richtersi J. Murray, 1911

In an afforested coal-mining site at Berzdorf, Germany, the soil tardigrade community was investigated. Tardigrade densities ranged from 300 to 33,600 individuals m⁻². Tardigrade distribution was very aggregated with standard deviations of up to 220% of mean densities. Fourteen species belonging to five eutardigrade genera were identified. Soils were dominated by the carnivorous tardigrade Macrobiotus richtersi that contributed 60% of overall densities. A comparison between nine soils of different forest ages (4–46 years) and tree species (poplar, alder, pine, mixed deciduous and mixed coniferous) showed no relationship of tardigrade species distribution and abundance to tree species, thickness of organic or litter layer, humus form, pH or soil moisture. Further, no correlation between nematode biomass and Macrobiotus richtersi abundances were detected. The age of afforested soils, however, affected tardigrade densities: younger soils (7–17 years) yielded higher tardigrade numbers compared to 46-year-old sites.Life history investigations on a strain of parthenogenetic Macrobiotus richtersi demonstrated a significant influence of temperature on egg development, survival rate, body growth and generation time. Hatching, first to fourth molts and maturing, on the other hand, were dependent upon body size alone. The simple, new culture method for carnivorous tardigrades described has successfully been utilized for parthenogenetic Macrobiotus richtersi for 6 years.     

红松人工林腐殖质组成及其结合形态研究

 运用野外调查与实验分析相结合的方法,对不同生长发育阶段红松人工林（林龄25、45、58、68 a）和红松混交林（林龄60a）根际与非根际土壤有机质含碳量、腐殖质组成与结合形态进行了研究。结果表明:不同年龄阶段红松人工纯林、红松混交林土壤有机质含碳量、腐殖质各组分含碳量随土层深度的加深而降低,并且根际土壤高于非根际土壤。就土壤腐殖质组成而言,除林龄58a红松人工林根际土壤和45a红松人工林非根际土壤外,其他林型土壤胡敏酸含碳量均高于富里酸含碳量;胡敏酸与富里酸比值（HA/FA）在1.00～2.45之间;土壤重组腐殖质、松结态腐殖质、稳结态腐殖质含碳量大小顺序为林龄58>68>25>45a;红松混交林除紧结态腐殖质外,其他腐殖质各组分含碳量均高于红松人工林。     

嘎隆拉山铁杉林土壤线虫群落结构与多样性研究

为了解西藏墨脱嘎隆拉山铁杉林土壤生态系统线虫群落的结构及多样性特征,采用种类组成、个体密度、多样性指数、功能性指数等特征值分析土壤线虫群落结构及多样性特点,并通过冗余分析及线性相关性分析探讨线虫群落与土壤理化性质间的关系。结果显示,嘎隆拉山铁杉林土壤线虫隶属于5目29科34属,个体密度介于0～1 231条?100 g~(-1)干土之间,平均278条?100g~(-1)干土,土层间无明显差异;群落优势属为垫咽属Tylencholaimus和细齿属Leptonchus;食真菌性线虫是最主要的营养类群;土壤有机质以真菌降解途径为主;嘎隆拉山铁杉林生态系统成熟度高,目前处于相对稳定状态;土壤速效钾含量显著影响线虫群落的数量和多样性;有机质、全氮、碱解氮、有效磷会对线虫数量造成影响;土壤含水量是嘎隆拉铁杉林土壤线虫群落的重要环境影响因子之一。     

长白山北坡原始林采伐对土壤性质影响的研究

长白山北坡是我国中纬度地区保持得比较完好的著名原始林区。林木组成复杂,成林树种丰富,每公顷蓄积量可达300—600立方米。而适合采伐的成过熟林已占绝大部分。据白河林业局资料:其林分蓄积中成过熟林占90.1%,这些成过熟林的林木生长量已大为减退,平均生长率为3.96%,而自然枯损率却占1.87%。特别是针叶树种平均自然枯损率高达3.79%,几乎与平均生长率相等¹⁾,这表明该局的森林资源应及时开发利用。另一方面,这些可采伐的原始林,地处熔岩高原,是第二松花江的源头,现有森林覆被对于调节气候、涵养水源、保持水土的作用是难于估量的。若采伐方式不当,是否会引起森林立地条件恶化而不利于更新造林,导致生态失去平衡并带来极大的灾难。为此,1982年吉林省林学会联合我院等十多个单位,针对上述问题,从各方面进行考察。笔者等用设立标准地调查对比的方法,于落叶松纯林和阔叶红松林采伐迹地上进行研究,现将初步结果报道如下。     

Spatial variability of O layer thickness and humus forms under different pine beech–forest transformation stages in NE Germany

Spatial variability of humus layer (O layer) thicknesses can have important impacts upon soil water dynamics, nutrient storage and availability, as well as plant growth. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the impact of forest‐transformation practices on the spatial variability of O layer thicknesses. The study focused on the Kahlenberg forest area (NE Germany) with stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica) of different age structures that form a transformation chronosequence from pure Scots pine stands towards pure European beech stands. Topsoil profiles including both, the O layer and the uppermost humic mineral soil horizon were excavated at intervals of 0.4 m along 15–20 m long transects, and spatial variability of O layer thicknesses was quantified by variogram analysis. The correlation lengths of total O layer thickness increased in the sequence consisting of pure pine stand (3.1 m) → older mixed stand (3.7 m) → pure beech stand (4.5 m), with the exception of the younger mixed stand, for which no correlation lengths of total O layer thickness could be determined. The degree of spatial correlation, i.e., the percentage of the total variance which can be described by variograms, was highest for the two monospecies stands, whereas this percentage was distinctly lower for the two mixed stands. A similar minimum for the two mixed stands was observed for the correlation lengths of the Oh horizon. These results suggest that the spatial structures of forest‐transformation stands may be interpreted in terms of a disturbance (in the form of the underplanting of beech trees). After this disturbance, the forest ecosystem requires at least 100 y to again reach relative equilibrium. These findings are in line with the results of other soil‐related investigations at these sites.     

Urbanization alters the functional composition,but not taxonomic diversity,of the soil nematode community

We evaluated the response of riparian forest soil nematode community structure to the physico-chemical environment associated with urban land use. Soils were sampled seasonally between December 2000 and October 2002 along an urban—rural transect in Asheville, North Carolina. We characterized the taxonomic (to genus) and functional composition (trophic groups) of the nematode community of forest soils, as well as several nematode ecological indicators (maturity index, channel index, weighted faunal index). The diversity of nematode genera was not affected by urban land use. However, there tended to be functional differences in the nematode communities along the land use gradient. The urban soils tended to have lower abundances of predatory and omnivorous nematodes. Differences in channel index scores indicated that there was less fungal dominance in the soil food webs of the urban soils. Our results indicate that the functional composition of the soil food web is an important component of soil biodiversity that can be affected by land use practices. This study was conducted in a relatively small city; hence the influence of pollutants on the soil environment was not as great as in larger cities. Correspondingly, the impact on the soil nematode community was not very severe. The utilization of the nematode community assemblage as an indicator of soil conditions should be further explored in urban places of differing magnitudes of environmental effects.     

Five-year trends in soil arthropod densities in pine forests with various levels of vitality

Summary A comparative field study was conducted to study the correlation between forest vitality and the abundance of soil microarthropods. During 5 years the vitality of six pine forests within the Veluwe area, the Netherlands, was estimated by the number of needle year-classes, while soils were sampled and extracted for various soil microarthropod groups. Within sites the number of needle year-classes in the forest stands fluctuated over the 5 years, while the collembolan family Sminthuridae showed a trend towards a decreasing population density and the density of the cryptostigmatid mite Platynothrus peltifer Koch increased. Among sites there was a significant positive correlation between the number of needle year-classes and the relative abundance of P. peltifer. The results imply that soil microarthropods may indicate changes in physical and chemical factors in relation to soil fertility and vitality of the trees.     

Nematofauna associated with exotic and native leguminous plant species in West Africa: effect of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Glomus intraradices</Emphasis> arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis

Ten leguminous trees, four exotic species (Australian Acacia) and six indigenous species (three Sahelian Acacia spp. and three Sesbania spp.), were grown for 4 months in a natural Sahelian soil inoculated with or without the endomycorrhizal fungus, Glomus intraradices. In control trials, the determinant factor structuring the soil nematode fauna was the plant species, related plants having a similar influence on the nematode community in the soil. Soil nematode abundance increased from exotic acacias (3.3 g^-1 dry soil) to native acacias (11.5 g^-1 dry soil) and Sesbania species (17.6 g^-1 dry soil). Plant feeding nematodes (mainly Scutellonema and Tylenchorhynchus) were significantly less abundant under exotic acacias (1.4 g^-1 dry soil) than under native acacias (7.2 g^-1 dry soil) or Sesbania species (7.3 g^-1 dry soil). Bacterial feeding nematode density increased from exotic acacias (1.2 g^-1 dry soil) to native acacias (3.0 g^-1 dry soil) and Sesbania species (7.7 g^-1 dry soil) as total densities. However, the differences in the structure of the nematode communities between plant groups were suppressed in the presence of the mycorrhizal fungus. In fact, no difference in nematode densities remained between plant groups when G. intraradices developed in several dominant taxa belonging to different trophic groups, particularly: Tylenchorhynchus, Apelenchina, Cephalobus and Dorylaimoidea. This study clearly indicated that inoculation with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus G. intraradices diminished the plant-specific effect on the structure of the soil nematode community.