Tiny Worms, Big Roles: Discover the Nematode Gallery

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Most of the life that keeps our soils healthy is invisible. Beneath our feet, thousands of tiny organisms quietly recycle nutrients, support plants, and shape the ecosystems we rely on every day.

Among these hidden helpers are nematodes—microscopic roundworms inhabiting nearly every environment on Earth. Some feed on bacteria and fungi, releasing nutrients for plants; others graze on algae, prey on smaller soil organisms, or parasitize insects for natural pest control. In contrast, plant-parasitic species can damage roots and crops. For soil ecologists, these feeding types (bacterivores, fungivores, predators, omnivores, insect parasites, plant parasites) act as powerful bioindicators of soil health, nutrient cycling, food web structure, and land management impacts.

Yet despite their ecological importance, nematodes rarely appear in biodiversity discussions with children and families, classroom programs, or public outreach. They’re too small for the naked eye, and high-quality images are scarce. That’s where the Nematode Gallery comes in. 

The gallery showcases microscope images of real nematodes from diverse habitats, revealing hidden details: head shapes, mouthparts, body outlines, and internals. One early image features the head of an Acrobeles species from a wild mustard field, showing both its slender form and intricate anatomy in striking detail.

Why it matters for all audiences

For families and educators: The gallery sparks curiosity. A single image can inspire drawing activities, stories about “who lives under the garden,” or simple soil observations with a magnifying glass. Educators can project images, use them in hands-on activities, or prompt questions like:

• What do you notice first about this organism?

• How might it move through soil?

• Is it a helper, a threat to plants, or both?

  
  

For students and early researchers: The images provide a gentle introduction to nematode morphology and microscopy. They can be used to explore how body shapes and mouthparts relate to ecological roles, or as examples in soil food web studies.

For institutions and policy-makers: Nematode communities serve as bioindicators of soil quality, offering data on nutrient cycling, ecosystem resilience, and environmental change.

Images are minimally edited —brightness and contrast adjustments only—ensuring faithful representation of what appears under the microscope. The gallery will grow over time with more species and resources.

Explore the gallery, spark curiosity, and see soil as a living system that supports life above and below ground.

Visit the Nematode Gallery here: Nematode Gallery