Community analysis of predaceous and free living nematodes of Aligarh district

A study on the community analysis of predatory nematodes belonging to Aligarh district was made. Fifty soil samples containing predatory nematodes were collected from the rhizosphere of thirty one different crops from fifty different localities. Twenty species of predatory nematodes were recorded. Fourteen species belonged to Dorylaimida, three to Mononchida and one each to Nygolimina, Enoplida and Diplogasterida. Community analysis of predatory nematodes was done for parameters like frequency, density, biomass, importance and prominence values. Dorylaim nematodes on the whole were very important group of predators as they were present more abundantly in high density and biomass. Some of the dorylaim predators viz., Dorylaimus stagnalis and Laimydorus baldus were most prevalent and formed a major constituent of the nematode community. The population of mononchs was localized but their numbers were more prevalent.