Population dynamics of two bacterial-feeding nematodes Acrobeloides nanus and Dolichorhabditis dolichura in relation to the initial food level was studied under laboratory conditions. Population density, age structure and selected productivity parameters of the two nematodes were compared in single and mixed species cultures. Initial food (bacteria Sporosarcina sp.) level significantly affected population dynamics of A. nanus and D. dolichura in the laboratory cultures. While A. nanus grew well at the three food levels, D. dolichura developed only at the highest initial density of food. There were significant differences in population dynamics of both studied species at the highest initial density of the bacterial food. In single species cultures population peak of D. dolichura occured earlier than that of A. nanus and maximal density of D. dolichura was significantly higher than maximal density of A. nanus. In mixed cultures population maximum was observed at the same time in both species and their peak densities were similar. Population maximum of A. nanus in mixed cultures was observed earlier than in its single cultures but the peak density of that species in single cultures was significantly higher than in mixed ones. Population peak of D. dolichura at the highest food level occurred at the same time irrespective of the type of culture, while peak abundance of that species in mixed cultures was almost 50% lower than in single cultures. The differences observed in population dynamics of the two nematode species were discussed with respect to the differences in the food supply of their natural habitats and the role they play in the processes of decomposition and mineralisation in soil.
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