Abstract ID: 3.7560 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Global climate is changing over time, which is evident when examining the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). Shifts in snow water equivalent, glacier melt runoff, have led to alterations in soil structure and local fauna, particularly affecting soil nematodes across various trophic levels. These organisms are crucial to several soil ecological processes and are considered effective indicators for assessing soil health and monitoring environmental changes. With this in mind, an experimental study was conducted in the high altitudes of West Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh. Using an open-top chamber (OTC), the study aimed to explore the impact of temperature changes on soil nematode community structure in the region. In October 2024, soil cores were collected from experimental plots (10 OTC + 10 Control Plots x each replicates 40 total samples). Nematodes were extracted, and identified at the genus level. The nematode community structure was analyzed and transformed to nematode-specific ecological indices. Data loggers were installed to measure climatic variables. Forty genera from 19 families and eight orders of nematodes were recorded in the study region. Soil and air temperatures were higher inside the OTC compared to the control plots for most of the year. Analysis revealed higher abundance of bacterivors in the OTC. Specifically, the densities of Acrobeles, Ceratoplectus, and Plectus significantly increased under the elevated temperature conditions of the OTC. In contrast, the abundance of predatory nematodes was slightly lower in the OTC compared to the control plots. The Maturity Index was notably lower in the OTC. Dissimilarity tests confirmed that nematode communities in the OTC were significantly different from control plots. Edaphic variables also varied between the chambers and control plots, suggesting that warming indirectly affects nematode diversity by altering soil moisture levels in the OTC plots. Based on these findings, it can be hypothesized that warming-induced changes in soil moisture are the primary factor driving differences in nematode responses between the OTC and control plots. The experimental data on nematode community structure transformed into nematode-specific indices can serve as indicators of soil health status and be valuable for long-term climate change impact assessments in IHR.