Temporal dynamics in nematode biodiversity and community structure at an experimental open ocean aquaculture site, Gulf of Maine, USA

We investigated nematode biodiversity and community structure during two time periods, 2002 and 2006, at four sites in the Gulf of Maine within the vicinity of an experimental open ocean aquaculture site. Here we present our findings of this first long-tenn temporal study in the area on changes in biodiversity and nematode community structure. Our results showed that, over a period of four years, nematode biodiversity declined significantly and nematode community structure changed drastically. Temporal changes were most pronounced but not restricted to the close vicinity of the open ocean aquaculture; sites that were considered control for other and ongoing macrofaunal monitoring also showed a considerable temporal decline in nematode biodiversity. Nematode communities changed so drastically that they grouped closely with multivariate analysis based on year of sampling rather than locality. A better grasp of long term biodiversity and community dynamics may give us a more realistic view of benthic ecology in light of the use of meiofauna as indicators of environmental change