California Sea Grant College Program

Nematodes, also known as roundworms, are among the most abundant groups of animals on the planet. If you had pinworms as a child, you’ve experienced nematodes firsthand – and are not alone, as at any given time, about a third of the world’s population is believed to be infected by some kind of nematode para- site. Nematodes, many species of which are not parasitic, are also incredibly common denizens of coastal sediments, and an important source of nourishment for shellfish and bigger worms, which themselves are forage species for other animals. Because of this, roundworms are critical components of the coastal food web, and hence a meaningful “bottom-up” indicator of coastal ecosystem functioning.