Description
Book SynopsisNematodes are the most widespread multicellular animals in nature and analysis of nematodes in terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, as well as their role and function in ecosystems, can be used for environmental monitoring. Compared to other organisms, they offer the greatest potential as bioindicators and can be used to study gene expression in relation to environmental challenges, to monitor changing impacts on the environment and in laboratory ecotoxicity tests. This volume will address classical and molecular approaches to nematode community analysis, the contemporary field of nematodes as biosensors, as well as geonomic and post geonomic aspects of nematode bioindicators. In addition, case studies will stress the importance of these bioindicators and demonstrate the commercial potential of these technologies. Providing a timely review of research into nematodes and environmental monitoring, this book will be essential reading for researchers in nematology and environmental science.
Table of Contentsa: Preface Part I: Nematodes and Bioindication – General Considerations 1: The Role of Nematodes in Ecosystems 2: Nematode Diversity in Terrestrial, Freshwater Aquatic and Marine Systems 3: Molecular Markers, Indicator Taxa, and Community Indices: the Issue of Bioindication Accuracy Part II: Analysis of Nematode Assemblages in Environmental Samples 4: General Community Indices that can be used for Analysis of Nematode Assemblages 5: Indices Developed Specifically for Analysis of Nematode Assemblages 6: Case Studies Using Nematode Assemblage Analysis in Aquatic Habitats 7: Case Studies Using Nematode Assemblage Analysis in Terrestrial Habitats 8: Molecular Tools for Analysing Nematode Assemblages Part III: Nematode Ecotoxicity Tests and Gene Expression Analysis 9: Ecotoxicity Testing with Nematodes 10: Transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans as Biosensors 11: Caenorhabditis elegans and Chemical Environmental Stressors: from DNA Microarrays and Data Analysis to Genomic Data of True Ecotoxicological Relevance Part IV: Commercial Use of Nematodes as Bioindicators 12: Commercial Aspects of the Use of Nematodes as Bioindicators
