Nematodes, including a new record of Tobrilus diversipapillatus in Australia, as potential indicators of sewage effluent pollution

Abstract

Nine nematode taxa were collected during a study of the effects of sewage effluent on benthic macroinvertebrates in Bulimba Creek, Brisbane. The nematode, T. diversipapillatus, previously unknown from Australia, comprised 80% of the collection, and was most abundant at polluted sites with high biological oxygen demand and high levels of total organic carbon. Free-living adult and juvenile Mermithidae made up 15.6% of the collection and were most abundant at sites with low biological oxygen demand. The potential of T. diversipapillatus and Mermithidae to serve as biological indicators of organic enrichment and toxic pollution is discussed in terms of these preliminary findings and literature data.