FUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIP OF SOIL INHABITING NEMATODES IN FOREST AREAS OF KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK, ASSAM

Nematode faunal analysis provides a powerful tool for diagnosis of the complexity and status of soil food webs and degree of stability of an ecosystem. There are very few studies on ecological analysis based on nematode diversity of protected areas such as Biological reserves and National Parks. The present study is aim at, to ascertain the ecological stability and also assess the impact of changing land use/environment in protected reserve forest of Kaziranga National Park, Assam Soil samples collected from forest area of this Park revealed the presence of 119 nematode species representing 86 genera, grouped under twelve orders, twenty-one superfamilies and thirty-five families. Taxonomic observations on the community structure of soil inhabiting nematodes in the forests of this Park, found that, in generic as well as species diversity order Dorylaimida represented the highest (Genera 44% and Species 51%) respectively and least were found in the orders Aphelenchida, Chromadorida and Triplonchida (Genera 1%, species 0.84% each). Trophic group analysis of forest area of this Park showed that, in generic as well as species diversity bacteriovores representing highest share of (33%) genera and (26%) Species and least was found in the fungal feeders in generic as well as species diversity (14%). Among the twenty one superfamilies recorded, Dorylaimoidea (genera 17% and species 18%) constituted the most dominant group followed by Tylenchoidea (genera 12% and 10% species); Tylencholaimoidea (genera 9% and species 12%); Belondiroidea (genera 8% and species 10%); Cephaloboidea (genera 7% and species 6%) Rhabditoidea (genera 7% and species 5%), Criconematoidea (genera 5% and species 7% each), Mononchoidea (genera and species 5% each); Nygolaimoidea (genera 5% and species 4%); Tripyloidea & Plectoidea (genera 3% and species 2.5%), Longidoroidea (genera 2% and species 3%); Actinolaimoidea (genera 2% and species 2.5%). Panagrolaimoidea, Alaimoidea, Teratocephaloidea and Monhysteroidea (genera 2% and species 2%), Leptolaimoidea (genera 1% and species 2%). The superfamilies Trichodoroidea, Aphelenchoidea & Chromadoroidea (genera 1% and species 1%each) were represented by only one species each. The genus Mesodorylaimus (an omnivore) dominated in the forest area.