Articles | Volume 25, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/we-25-241-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/we-25-241-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Review article
| 
12 Dec 2025
Review article |
| 12 Dec 2025
| 12 Dec 2025
Soil nematode communities in extreme environments: adaptations, biogeography, and climate change responses
Sichuan Wanhao Consulting Co., Ltd, Chengdu, 610075, Sichuan, China
Tairan Zhang
College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Wanyanhan Jiang
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610075, Sichuan, China
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Short summary
How do soil nematodes survive in Earth's harshest places? We synthesized global research from polar, alpine, and arid regions. We found they share common survival strategies, like suspending their metabolism, and rely on simple microbe-based food webs. Our review concludes that climate change impacts them mostly indirectly, by altering permafrost or vegetation. Understanding these sensitive organisms is vital for predicting the stability of nutrient cycling in Earth's most vulnerable ecosystems.
How do soil nematodes survive in Earth's harshest places? We synthesized global research from...
