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Diversity–diseaserelationships in natural microscopic nematode communities
Small microscopic roundworms (nematodes) offer unique opportunities for studying disease-diversity relationships, but contrary to data from larger organisms, occurrence of disease-diversity effects has not been confirmed yet in microscopic communities.
In this study, wild roundworm communities were collected and roundworm biodiversity was determined by DNA sequencing. Parasite occurrence was determined by applying direct staining and fluorescent reporter strains that detect parasites. This study suggests that relatively species-poor roundworm communities could be more prone to infection with specific parasites. Moreover, it establishes the use of roundworms for studying disease-diversity relationships and invites for follow-up studies disentangling disease-diversity relationships in controlled experiments.