Determination of the optimal soil sample size to accurately characterise nematode communities in soil. (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wiesel, Lea; Daniell, Tim J.; King, Dale; Neilson, Roy
• Is Part Of: Soil biology and biochemistry. Volume 80(2015)
• Page Start: 89
• Page End: 91
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: Assemblage -- Community -- Nematode -- Relative real-time PCR -- Soil quality; Soil biochemistry -- Periodicals; Soil biology -- Periodicals; Sols -- Biochimie -- Périodiques; Sols -- Biologie -- Périodiques; Sols -- Microbiologie -- Périodiques; Bodembiologie; Biochemie; 631.46
• DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2014.09.026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-0717

Abstract

Abstract: Analysis of nematode communities is a potential biological proxy to monitor soil health. Traditionally, nematodes are extracted from 200 g of soil and then identified based on morphology. However, the optimal soil sample size to accurately characterise nematode communities using molecular methods is unknown. Using a combined relative real-time PCR and T-RFLP approach we analysed nematode communities extracted from triplicate samples ranging from 1 to 200 g soil. Our data indicated that for molecular based analyses, soil sample sizes <200 g of soil do not accurately represent the abundance of nematodes and <100 g samples are less likely to reflect the true community composition. Thus characterisation of nematode communities from low sample sizes may not be robust. Highlights: Relative real-time PCR is a good measure of nematode abundance at 200 g sample size. Nematode community composition differed between low and high weight soil samples. Soil samples of >100 g are needed to truly represent nematode community composition.