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- Title
Influence of substrate on the body-waving behaviour of nematodes.
- Authors
KRUITBOS, Laura M.; HERITAGE, Stuart; HAPCA, Simona; WILSON, Michael J.
- Abstract
The soil-dwelling nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae, S. scapterisci, S. feltiae, S. glaseri, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, H. megidis, Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita and Caenorhabditis elegans were placed on agar plates each containing four substrates (peat, sand, sandy loam and leaf litter). The body-waving behaviour of infective juveniles was recorded over a 10-day period in the presence or absence of an insect, Galleria mellonella, a susceptible host of some species. Body-waving behaviour differed amongst species and varied significantly in relation to substrate, time and the presence of G. mellonella. Steinernema carpocapsae showed body-waving behaviour more than other species and this tendency increased significantly with time. More S. carpocapsae were seen body waving on peat and leaf litter than on either sandy loam or sand. Conversely, sand promoted body waving in S. scapterisci. Body waving by C. elegans was more common on peat than on any of the other substrates. Heterorhabditis megidis, not previously known to body wave, did so in low numbers on peat and sandy loam. The remaining four species did not body wave. Previous work has shown that the presence of S. glaseri increases body waving by S. carpocapsae. We investigated whether substrate influenced this interaction and also included S. scapterisci in the study. The presence of S. glaseri significantly altered rates of body waving in S. carpocapsae and S. scapterisci in a way that was substrate-dependent. Our data suggest that body-waving behaviour is determined by substrate quality and differing body-waving behaviours may be a mechanism by which nematodes avoid competition.
- Subjects
NEMATODES; STEINERNEMATIDAE; CAENORHABDITIS elegans; GREATER wax moth; HETERORHABDITIDAE
- Publication
Nematology, 2009, Vol 11, Issue 6, p917
- ISSN
1388-5545
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1163/156854109X443433