Assessing the diversity and spatial distribution of nematodes in the Store Mosse National Park (Sweden) using metabarcoding

Abstract

Nematode taxa of the Store Mosse National Park in the south of Sweden were surveyed using DNA metabarcoding. Samples were collected from a range of media across all the five vegetation types the park spans. A total of 50 samples consisting of soil, litter, lichens, sphagnum, roots, wood, moss, fungus and anthill materials were analysed. Nematodes were characterised using a ~350 bp region of their 18S ribosomal RNA gene that include V7 and V8 variable domains. The analysis identified 47 families, 76 genera (21 new to Swedish fauna) and 60 species (31 new to Swedish fauna). Some nematodes showed a strong association with certain medium types, especially at the species level. The results showed a strong justification for our strategy of sampling different medium types. Soil and litter communities, which were the most diverse, showed high levels of stability with good balance of all the various trophic and coloniser-persister groups.