Abstract
As nematodes are widespread throughout the terrestrial ecosystem, and have shown potential to be used as indicators of ecosystem development. Nematode indices were used to distinguish between two different amendment types during platinum mine tailing reclamation. The two different amendment types include the use of woodchip-vermicompost and inorganic fertiliser. Both treatments had a higher number of nematodes than the natural veldt. Of the 17 genera identified, Rhabditis dominated in all sites. A significant difference (ANOVA; p < 0.05) was observed between Plant parasitic indices of both treatments and the natural veldt. The main decomposition pathway was dominated by bacterial decomposition for all sites as evident from the Channel index values. The dominance of bacterial feeding nematodes and the high number of nematodes feeding on higher plants indicate that the platinum mine tailings sites may be in an initial stage of succession. It is expected that the woodchip-vermicompost may have a low C:N ratio, causing the system to be nutrient enriched as indicated by the enrichment index. An increase in food-web development was observed in the woodchip-vermicompost sites indicating recovery from disturbance, during the third sampling period.
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Rossouw, J., van Rensburg, L., Claassens, S. et al. Nematodes as indicators of ecosystem development during platinum mine tailings reclamation. Environmentalist 28, 99–107 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-007-9050-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-007-9050-7