Forest floor nematode communities and associated tree canopies: Is there an ecological linkage?

We searched for patterns supporting the hypothesis of compositional and functional linkage between forest floor nematode communities and dominant tree canopies, while controlling for some relevant soil and climate variables. Twenty-one forest sampling sites scattered throughout the South-Eastern Carpathian basin were selected under spruce, beech, and hornbeam-oak canopies. The relative contribution of forest canopy type to nematode assemblage differentiation was estimated through nematode taxonomic composition and feeding guild structure. The forest canopy type had a significant effect on nematode taxon/feeding guild composition and diversity at stand level. Several (diagnostic) nematode taxa and feeding guilds were positively associated with and accurately predicted the forest canopy types considered. Apart from the herbivorous nematodes, all the other trophic guilds were significantly related, in terms of their relative abundance, to the forest canopy type. Both nematode taxonomic and trophic diversity were significantly higher under beech canopy compared with its two counterparts. The highest total nematode beta diversity, either taxonomic or trophic, was attained between hornbeam-oak and spruce canopies. Nematode taxonomic and trophic beta diversity between forest canopy types were largely determined by taxon replacement and respectively, by a nested trophic structure. Overall, four concordant and two discordant patterns were revealed between nematode taxon and feeding guild composition with respect to overlying forest canopy, all underpinning the addressed ecological linkage. The present results bring evidence regarding the important contribution of the forest canopy, along with climatic variables, in driving the taxonomic and functional composition/diversity of nematode communities from the soil organic horizon. • Nematode taxon/diet guild composition driven by winter temperatures and tree canopies. • Forest canopy type stronger related to taxonomic than trophic nematode composition. • All but plant-feeding nematodes show close dependence on forest canopy type. • Altering the forest canopy - nematode linkage may affect ecosystem-level processes.