1. A Survey of Soil Nematodes Across Western Oregon Caroline Hilburn Mentor: Dr. Dee Denver Zoology Department

2. Background Nematode model –Parasitic nematodes of interest to medicine –Great variety of species –Easily cultivated –Small genome Caenorhabditis elegans was the first animal to have its complete genome sequenced C. remanei and C.briggsae are also being heavily studied as comparison species Photo: Lan D. Chin-Sang

3. Greater Implications A mitochondrial deletion heteroplasmy in C. briggsae was found recently in a gene known to affect aging and Parkinson’s disease Nematode models, such as C. briggsae help understand mutation, the root of all genetic diseases. Parasitic nematodes cause Riverblindness, Elephantiasis, Hookworm Photo: Eric Haag

6. Ecology Methods Blocked experimental design, with sub-sites and samples nested within each of 8 major blocks. Nematode extraction from the soil using modified Baermann tubes ‘Paul’ plates used for nematode cultivation New lines started by picking single worms to individual seeded ‘Paul’ plates

7. Sampling 8 major sampling areas, Portland, Salem, Corvallis, Eugene, Lincoln City, Toledo, Lyons, and Sweet Home Five soil types; natural areas, city parks, cultivated land, compost heaps, and rotting fruit Sampling –8 major blocks, up to 5 different soil types in each block, each with 4 sub-sites, and 4 soil samples from each sub-site

8. Molecular methods Nematode strain identification –18S ribosomal RNA gene targeted for conventional PCR amplification SPRI bead purification used to prepare PCR product for sequencing Product from the sequencing reactions taken to the Center for Genomics Research and Biotechnology for sequencing

9. Results 178 strains successfully sequenced Nematodes from 17 genera identified: Acrobeloides, Cephalobus, Rhabditis, Mesorhabditis, Oscheius, Panagrolaimus, Plectus, Halicephalobus, Rhabditoides, Rhabditella, Choriorhabditis, Plectidae, Pristionchus, Pellioditis, Panagrellus, and Tylocephalus. 40 new nematode strains started 4 likely new species isolated

13. Before SamplingAfter Sampling P P

15. Next Steps Caenorhabditis: continue sampling Panagrolaimus: continue exploring the new strains and how they relate to the evolution of different reproductive modes Photo: Dr. David Wharton

16. Acknowledgements Howard Hughes Medical Institute: Funding Dr. Kevin Ahern Dr. Dee Denver: Mentor Dana Howe Sampling Sites: –Portland parks and recreation department –Cooper Mountain Organic Vineyard –Don Kruger at Kruger’s Farm –Liz Myers at Deerhaven Vineyard –Vitae Springs Vineyard –Oregon State Parks –Jan McNeilan, and the OSU Extension Services Offices Background Photo: Hulusi Cinar

17. From an interview with E.O.Wilson, author of Consilience: “Nematode worms, account for four of every five animals living on Earth - and are so abundant that if the planet’s surface vanished, its “ghostly outline” could still be made out in the biomass of nematodes, almost all of species unknown.”