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Freshwater Ecosystems
Roundworms are indicative of enriched as well as polluted waters and are quite tolerant of changing conditions. Depending on the species, freshwater roundworms feed on dead or alive plant or animal material. As part of the freshwater ecosystem, roundworms are prey for other roundworms and vertebrates such as crayfish.
Terrestrial Ecosystems
Roundworms live in all seven terrestrial ecosystems, including tropical rain forests, savannas, deserts, temperate grasslands, deciduous forests, coniferous forests and the tundra. Roundworms thrive from the tropics to the polar regions and occur in staggering numbers. About 10 square feet of mud contains more than 4 million roundworms of various size and species. Many of the species are microscopic and parasitic, living on and in plants and animals, including humans.
Oceanic Ecosystems
Three main areas make up an ocean's ecosystem: shallow, deep ocean water and deep ocean surface. Ocean ecosystems cover about 75 percent of the Earth. Prior to 1993, deep-sea life was largely unknown. In December of 1993, three scientists aboard a submersible vessel called Alvin discovered giant tubeworms living at a depth of 8,000 feet below the Pacific Ocean's surface. Scientists viewed thickets of 4-foot-long worms sporting red plumes. Previously discovered at shallower depths but still in darkness, the giant tubeworms thrive around hydrothermal vents. Scientists once thought no living thing could survive around these vents due to toxic chemicals, high temperatures and high pressures associated with the vents. Since 1977, scientists have discovered more than 300 new roundworm species around hydrothermal vents.
Fun Facts
Roundworms are one of the most common species on Earth. More than 80,000 species of roundworms have been documented in scientific literature, but researchers estimate that nearly one million living species exist worldwide.