Spatial pattern analysis of entomopathogenic and other free-living nematodes at landscape scales

Abstract

Spatial patterns of entomopathogenic and other free-living nematode populations were analyzed at the landscape scale. Free-living bacterial feeder populations can be classified into trophic groups based on their functional and life history characteristics. Differences in life history traits were hypothesized to result in different spatial structures of populations. Spatial autocorrelations (Moran's I index) and exponential variogram models were calculated and estimated for each trophic group, including entomopathogenic nematodes, and comparisons were made among them. Spatial autocorrelation results showed that the spatial structure of entomopathogenic nematode populations is similar to that of relatively r-selected free-living bacterial feeders, which share several life history traits with entomopathogenic nematodes.