Title: Nematode community structure as bioindicator of soil heavy metal pollution along an urban–rural gradient in southern Shenyang, China

Authors: Qi Li, Shuang Zhong, Fengping Li, Yilai Lou, Wenju Liang

Addresses: Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China. ' Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China. ' Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China. ' Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China. ' Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China

Abstract: Effects of heavy metals caused by urbanisation on soil nematode communities were investigated along an urban–suburban–rural gradient in southern Shenyang, China. The numbers of total nematodes increased significantly along the urban–rural gradient. Similar trends were observed in the values of Structure Index (SI), with lower values found in urban site and higher in the rural site. Generic richness and SI were sensitive indicators for assessing the effect of heavy metals on soil nematode communities. The Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) indicated that copper concentration and Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) were most important environmental parameters that influenced nematode distribution.

Keywords: urban–rural gradient; heavy metals; soil nematodes; urbanisation; nematode communities; China; nematode distribution; soil contamination; environmental pollution; bioindicators.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2011.040276

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2011 Vol.45 No.4, pp.297 - 309

Published online: 29 Apr 2015 *

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