Big Thicket Nematode (Worm) Research Discovers Species Possibly New to Science

SCIENCE NEWS

Big Thicket Nematode (Worm) Research Discovers Species Possibly New to Science

Submitted by Mary Catherine Johnston (mathicket@aol.com), Thicket of Diversity Chair, Big Thicket Association, Beaumont, TX (www.thicketofdiversity.org)

From 2012-2016 Dr. Thomas Powers of University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his team made six collection trips to the Big Thicket wetlands of Southeast Texas to inventory soil-dwelling nematodes. The project was conducted in two phases and received generous support, time and constructive advice from the Big Thicket Association’s Thicket of Diversity and the National Park Service staff at the Big Thicket National Preserve. This research encompassed completely new territory for the Powers Nematology Laboratory and yielded remarkably high levels of soil diversity and new species discoveries. As of 2018, 1026 nematodes have been identified of which a smaller group of 614 nematodes have digital images, morphometric measurements and DNA template vouchers. Of note is that nine species are considered as candidates for new species to science! Dr. Power’s research is described in further detail in various publications including Nematology and the Journal of Nematology. The project was performed with penalty monies from a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality enforcement action.