Abstract Free-living nematodes, an ancient animal phylum of unsegmented microscopic roundworms, have successfully adapted to nearly every ecosystem on Earth: from marine and freshwater to land, from the polar regions to the tropics, and from the mountains to the ocean depths. They are globally the most abundant animals in sediments and soils. In the present article, we identify the factors that collectively explain the successful ecological proliferation of free-living nematodes and demonstrate the impact they have on vital sediment and soil processes. The ecological success of nematodes is strongly linked to their ability to feed on various food sources that are present in both sediments and soils, and to proliferate rapidly and survive in contrasting environmental conditions. The adaptations, roles, and behaviors of free-living nematodes have important implications for the resilience of sediments and soils, and for emergent animal communities responding to human alterations to ecosystems worldwide.

中文翻译：

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蠕虫的世界：生态灵活性为沉积物和土壤中自由生活的线虫带来回报

摘要 自由生活的线虫是一种由不分节的微小蛔虫组成的古老动物门，它已经成功地适应了地球上几乎所有的生态系统：从海洋和淡水到陆地，从极地到热带，从山区到海洋深处。它们是全球沉积物和土壤中数量最丰富的动物。在本文中，我们确定了共同解释自由生活线虫成功生态增殖的因素，并证明了它们对重要沉积物和土壤过程的影响。线虫的生态成功与它们以沉积物和土壤中存在的各种食物来源为食，以及在不同的环境条件下快速增殖和生存的能力密切相关。自由生活的线虫的适应、作用和行为对沉积物和土壤的恢复力以及对人类对全球生态系统的改变做出反应的新兴动物群落具有重要影响。