Distribution and Ecology of Rotylenchus and Pararotylenchus (Nematoda: Hoplolaimidae) in Great Britain

Six species of plant parasitic nematodes belonging to the Rotylenchinac were identified from 5,451 soil samples taken from throughout Great Britain. Pararotylenchus ouensensis was found only from Jersey, Channel Islands, Rotylenchus pumilis and R. buxophilus had distributions mainly restricted to southern England while R. uniformis, R. goodeyi and R. robustus were found in a wide range of soil types but R. robustus preferred more moist, alkaline soils and was recorded at greater altitudes then R. goodeyi. Rotylenchus goodeyi was more often found associated with beech and Scots pine while R. robustus preferred bog myrtle, oak and hawthorn. At the population levels encountered there was no evidence of either inter- or intraspecific competition within or between either R. goodeyi or R. robustus.