Soil Nematode community structure along elevational Gradient in Bhagirathi Basin, Uttarakhand - A Morphological and Molecular approach.

Abstract

Gangotri National Park (GNP) is a protected area and has fewer human disturbances, allowing soil nematodes to diversify. However, it has harsh climatic conditions at high altitudes, which may hinder the nematode community structure. Systematic study of the soil inhabiting nematodes associated with forest vegetation of Gangotri National Park is discussed in this thesis. A compiled inventory of the soil nematode genera recorded from GNP during this study has also been provided in this thesis. A total of 62 nematode genera and fifteen species were identified from high altitude region of GNP. vegetation type is a significant factor for soil nematode diversity as every vegetation type has a different local environment and physicochemical properties that affect the soil biota, specifically soil nematodes being present at various trophic levels in the soil food web. Among the various vegetation types in Gangotri National Park's high-altitude areas, there are substantial differences in the taxonomic composition, the energy flow channels, and nematode community structures, which provide actual examples for understanding the role of soil nematodes in key soil ecological processes in the region. This study is a pioneer study in the region evaluating the effect of vegetation type on soil nematode diversity therefore, more similar studies are required to comprehend the relationship between nematode diversity and soil ecosystems of high altitude vegetations.