Nematode species at risk - A metric to assess pollution in soft sediments of freshwaters

► In 203 freshwater sediment samples 297 nematode species were identified. ► Influence of toxic potential on nematodes was distinct from that of sediment texture. ► With multivariate statistics 20% of all taxa were classified as nematode species at risk (NemaSPEAR). ► For independent data NemaSPEAR[%] indices strongly correlated with the toxic potential. ► NemaSPEAR[%] indices decreased dose-dependently in the presence of single chemicals in microcosms.