Soil nematode community characteristics around the Gangue hill of Fushun West Open-pit mine

Diversity and nematode abundance were investigated in soils collected around the Gangue hill of Fushun West open-pit mine to evaluate soil pollution, due to heavy metals contents, using nematodes as bioindicators. Nematodes were collected from soil samples using elutriate-sievingflotation and centrifugation methods. The species richness and ecological indices were analyzed. On the base of chemical and nematological analysis, the results indicated that the area around the Gangue hill of Fushun West Openpit mine was polluted by heavy metal, but the degree of pollution was not very serious. According to the results obtained from single-factor analysis, cadmium soil content was ten times higher than the background; 29 genera of nematodes were identified and Acrobeloides, Cervidellus and Mesorhabtidis were the dominant genera in almost all sampling sites. The dominant genera were different as the distances to the Gangue hill changed. In particular, in the investigated areas bacterivores and plant-parasites nematodes were more diffuse than fungivores and omnivorepredators. Copper soil content was significantly correlated with plant parasitic trophic group and with total number of nematodes, thus suggesting that nematode communities studies are important scientific basis for understanding the healthy development of soil ecosystem.