LABEXE20.HLP                                            Rev 7/92
                        Laboratory Exercise 20

     Purpose: To study the characteristics and biology of fungal- and 
     bacterial-feeding nematodes.

     1.  Examine cultures and specimens of Aphelenchus avenae (fungus
     feeder) and Acrobeloides bodenheimeri, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Cruznema tripartitum (bacterial feeders).

     2.  Examine feeding behavior, rate and frequency of feeding, and rate of 
     movement of each of the nematodes.  Are all life stages feeding?

     3.  Behavior in response to stimulus.  You are provided with a petri dish 
     with a number of individuals of a bacterial-feeding nematode placed in the 
     center, and a bacterial colony at the edge.  Determine whether the 
     nematodes are attracted to, repelled by, or indifferent to the colony.
     Conduct a similar trial with a small quantity of NaHCO3 (source of CO2) 
     placed at the egde of the dish.

     4.  Discussion and demonstration of techniques for isolating and culturing 
     soil bacteria and bacterial-feeding nematodes.

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