Soil Storm Survivors: What Do Nematodes Reveal About Resilient Soil?

Tiny soil engineers reveal how forests recover after windstorms — and what that means for healthy ecosystems everywhere.​

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Imagine walking through a European spruce forest just after a windstorm. Branches are scattered across the forest floor, the air smells of wet pine, and the silence is almost eerie. While the damage above ground is obvious, a hidden story is unfolding beneath your feet — a story of storm survivors underground. Out of sight, yet essential, tiny soil nematodes—microscopic worms that quietly shape forest health—are adapting, reorganizing, and keeping the ecosystem alive. Through their responses, they offer valuable clues about what resilient soil truly looks like.​

Soil nematodes are the invisible gardeners of the forest. Though rarely noticed, their influence is profound. They break down dead plants, recycle nutrients, and support young trees. They come in three main types: bacterivores, which eat bacteria and act as tiny recyclers; fungivores, which feed on fungi and help break down dead plant material; and predators, which eat other nematodes and help keep the soil food web balanced. Together, they form a finely tuned underground network. But when a storm strikes, their neighborhoods shift—and with them, the balance of the community.

In 2017, nematologists M. Renčo and A. Čerevková studied European spruce forests affected by windstorms to understand how soil nematode communities respond to disturbance. By comparing conditions before and after disturbance, they examined which nematodes thrived, which declined, and how overall soil function was affected.​

Key finding: After the storm, fast-breeding bacterivores exploded, feasting on uprooted roots and fresh organic matter, while delicate predators nearly vanished—temporarily simplifying the soil food web.​

Before the storm	After the storm
Balanced community	Bacterivores dominate
Mature predators	Sensitive types decline
Stable nutrient cycle	Nutrient flush, then stress

This simple visual illustrates how the soil community shifts dramatically following a storm: some groups gain a temporary advantage while others struggle, leading to a short-term simplification of the soil food web. Although this study was conducted in 2017, its findings remain highly relevant as climate-driven disturbances become more frequent. 

This story continues the theme explored in our previous post, What Do Tiny Worms Reveal About Our Urban Soils?, where we examined how city life reshapes soil communities. In both cases—whether disturbed by human activity or natural forces—soil nematodes show remarkable adaptability. Their presence, absence, or abundance acts as a biological signal, offering a window into the health and resilience of the ecosystem above them.​

Natural disturbances like storms or fallen trees can create new niches for soil organisms, sometimes even temporarily increasing biodiversity. These shifts influence how quickly organic matter decomposes, how nutrients move through the soil, and how young trees recover. When the forest is shaken above ground, the underground community responds—absorbing the shock and sustaining ecosystem function.

For gardeners and nature enthusiasts, the takeaway is clear: healthy soil is resilient soil. By supporting diverse soil life—through composting, mulching, and reducing unnecessary disturbance—we help the same microscopic engineers that allow forests to bounce back after storms.

Next time you encounter a forest after a windstorm, pause for a moment. Beneath the fallen branches, tiny heroes in the soil are constantly adapting, reshaping their world, and quietly maintaining the balance of life. Their hidden resilience reminds us that even the smallest creatures play an outsized role in ecosystem health—in forests, gardens, and beyond.

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This article summarizes and interprets findings from Renčo et Čerevková (2017) or educational and outreach purposes under fair dealing.

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—Pour aller plus loin

• Renčo, M. & Čerevková, A. 2017.Windstorms as mediator of soil nematode community changes: Evidence from European spruce forest. Helminthologia, 54, 36–47.

  This study highlights soil nematode diversity, their responses to stress and disturbances, such as windstorms, and their role as indicators of soil health.