Nematode community structure as a bioindicator in environmental monitoring

Four of every five multicellular animals on the planet are nematodes. They occupy any niche that provides an available source of organic carbon in mar ine, freshwater and terrestrial environments. Nematodes vary in sensitivity to pollutants and environmental disturbance. Recent development of indices that integrate the responses of different; taxa and trophic groups to pert urbation provides a powerful basis for analysis of faunal assemblages in so il as in situ environment assessment systems.