Applications of nematode community structure research to agricultural production and habitat disturbance

Nematode communities in agricultural habitats are diverse, usually comprising tens of species and a large number of individuals. The study of nematode community structure can be approached in a number of ways which can be categorized under a synecological approach. Although the plant-parasitic species are of most obvious interest to plant hematologists, these are only a part of the nematode fauna that affects agroecosystems. The application of community structure research to investigation of those effects can help elucidate their importance. This information is not only intrinsically valuable, but it is necessary in the development of sustainable agricultural production systems.