NEMATODE COMMUNITIES IN BEECH FORESTS IN STRANDZHA NATURAL PARK, BULGARIA I. SPECIES COMPOSITION

I. Iliev, Zh. Ilieva

Abstract: A study on soil nematode communities was conducted in beech forest associations in two plant climatic zones designated as “rodhodendron area” and “high area”. Samples were collected in April, June, August, October and December, 2009, and April, June, August and October, 2010 from three sites: i) Protected Zone “Marina reka” and ii) Protected Zone “Bjalata prast” in the rhododendron area, and iii) “Propada” locality in the high area. The species composition, the trophic structure and the functional guilds of the communites were described. 134 nematode species from 38 families and 12 orders were identified. The highest species diversity was established on site “Propada” (104 species), and the lowest on site “Bjalata prast” (49 species). Оnly 29 species were common for all three studied localities. Nineteen species and genus Kochinema represent new geografic records for Bulgaria. The greatest species diversity was established for the guilds of bacterial feeders Bf2 and fungal feeders Fu2, followed by epidermal and root hair feeders Pf-e and omnivores Om4. Regardless of the rich undergrowth vegetation in the studied localities, few plant parasitic specimens and species were found and some of the taxonomic groups common for the temperate region were not represented.

Keywords: Fagus orientalis; functional guilds; soil nematode; species composition; trophic groups

Date published: 2017-10-26