气体射流冲击干燥机气流分配室流场模拟与结构优化

为了改善气体射流冲击干燥机气流分配室流场结构,提高喷管速度分布均匀性,以气体运动微分方程和RNGk-ε湍流模型为基础,利用计算流体动力学软件Fluent对气流分配室内气流流场进行了三维数值模拟,得到了热气流在气流分配室内的流动特征,并对原模型结构进行改进,提出了3类优化方法,同时将最优模型的预测值与试验数据进行了比较。计算结果表明,气流分配室原始结构的速度矢量在气流腔室内部形成2个左右对称的反向涡流区,对应喷管出口速度分布沿高度方向呈先减小后增加的趋势,设计工况下速度偏差比和速度不均匀系数分别达到24.6%和18.1%;减小分配室下端宽度这一常见思路并不能改善气流分配室的速度分布均匀性,而扰流模型则被证明是可行的;平板扰流模型的效果优于半圆柱扰流模型,其最佳结构参数为平板间距为160mm且第一块平板较喷管轴线高14mm,速度偏差比降为7.7%,而速度不均匀系数仅为4.7%,数值模拟结果与试验数据最大偏差不超过8%。该文的研究思路对类似于干燥机气流分配室结构的均匀性设计提供了参考。     

Numerical simulation and optimum design on airflow distribution chamber of air-impingement jet dryer

为了改善气体射流冲击干燥机气流分配室流场结构,提高喷管速度分布均匀性,以气体运动微分方程和RNG k-ε湍流模型为基础,利用计算流体动力学软件Fluent对气流分配室内气流流场进行了三维数值模拟,得到了热气流在气流分配室内的流动特征,并对原模型结构进行改进,提出了3类优化方法,同时将最优模型的预测值与试验数据进行了比较。计算结果表明,气流分配室原始结构的速度矢量在气流腔室内部形成2个左右对称的反向涡流区,对应喷管出口速度分布沿高度方向呈先减小后增加的趋势,设计工况下速度偏差比和速度不均匀系数分别达到24.6%和18.1%;减小分配室下端宽度这一常见思路并不能改善气流分配室的速度分布均匀性,而扰流模型则被证明是可行的; 平板扰流模型的效果优于半圆柱扰流模型,其最佳结构参数为平板间距为160 mm且第一块平板较喷管轴线高14 mm,速度偏差比降为7.7%,而速度不均匀系数仅为4.7%,数值模拟结果与试验数据最大偏差不超过8%。该文的研究思路对类似于干燥机气流分配室结构的均匀性设计提供了参考。     

苜蓿气体射流冲击联合常温通风干燥装备设计及试验

针对苜蓿干燥存在的处理量小、耗能高、叶片损失率高的问题,该文将紫花苜蓿的干燥过程分为高温和常温两个干燥段,设计了气体射流冲击联合常温通风干燥装备,包括基于狭缝型气体射流冲击管的气体射流冲带式干燥机和基于环境条件自动控制的常温通风箱式干燥机。利用计算流体动力学软件Fluent对狭缝型气流冲击管内部的流场进行数值模拟。结果显示增设扰流板可以改善狭缝型气体射流冲击管喷嘴出口气流速度分布的均匀性,速度变异系数由不设扰流板情况下的51.1%降为7.7%;利用单片机控制系统进行信息采集并控制通风的进行,解决夜间物料吸湿回潮、发热的问题。以紫花苜蓿作为原料对干燥装备的性能进行试验验证,结果表明:气体射流冲击联合常温通风干燥的苜蓿具有批次处理量大(150 kg/h)、叶片损失率小(干草的叶片损失率为1.5%)、能耗低(单位去水能耗3 408 k J/kg)的优点。研究结果为低能耗、低叶片损失率的苜蓿干燥技术与装备提供参考。     

基于加热均匀性的射频干燥系统结构优化与试验

针对现有射频干燥系统存在装料量大时射频加热不均匀、干燥过程无法实时称重等问题,该文设计了一种热风对流加热装置、装料装置和称量装置。热风对流加热装置主要由热源供给系统、风温风速控制系统和气流分配室组成;装料装置由特制的多层料盘组成;称量装置由称量传感器、称量托盘和支柱等组成。采用计算流体力学软件对气流分配室进行模拟,结果显示改变气流分配室为喇叭口形状及增加分流圆柱体后,条形出风口处风速均匀性提高,其速度偏差比从31%降为10.5%,速度不均匀系数从19%降为7.6%。以玉米种子为例进行了优化后的性能验证试验,结果表明:热风对流加热装置可以提供均匀的温度和风速;自动称量装置能够实时监测物料的质量,其最大量程为24 kg,分层后的薄层物料最大处理量为18 kg,偏差范围为1~5 g;在热风和射频合适的匹配参数下,采用射频干燥结合热风对流技术,以及分层装料的方法,可解决射频干燥大装载量玉米种子产生的热偏移问题和边角效应问题,进而提高射频加热均匀性。该研究避免了干燥过程中外界温湿度的影响,减少了10%的干燥时间,为改善射频加热均匀性提供了参考。     

多温区网带式干燥机热流场分析与结构优化

为实现连续式干燥机温度分区要求，该研究设计了一种基于分层孔板送风的四层网带式干燥机。首先，采用计算流体力学（Computational Fluid Dynamics，CFD）方法优化了气流分配室出风孔结构参数；并以油茶籽为干燥对象，基于油茶籽干燥动力学特性，建立了干燥机CFD模型，以温度不均匀系数作为单层温度均匀性、温度分层偏离度作为分层温度显著性的评价指标，研究了送风温度呈自上而下逐层递减和递增两种工况下其内部温度场分布规律。研究结果表明，在送风温度递减和递增两种工况下，自上而下各层温度不均匀系数分别为3.08%、2.00%、1.89%、1.60%和2.37%、2.04%、2.42%、3.31%，递减工况下温度分层偏离度为4.94%，递增工况下温度分层偏离度为3.57%。可有效实现温度分区的功能。为了进一步优化干燥机温度均匀性和温度分层有效性，为每一层气流分配室设置阻流板。结构优化后，对于温度递减和递增工况，各层温度不均匀系数的降幅分别达到了13.0%～66.3%和23.8%～51.9%，温度分层偏离度降幅分别达到了10.9%和10.1%，分层温度均匀性和温度分区效果得到显著改善。研究结果可为网带式干燥机进行分区可控变温干燥提供参考依据。     

气流改善泡沫树莓果浆微波干燥均匀性提高能量利用率

为满足浆果低能耗、高品质的生产过程的需要,采用理论分析、数值模拟与台架试验相结合的方法,研究气流与微波协同作用对泡沫果浆干燥均匀性和微波能利用率的影响规律。结果表明:在气流与微波协同干燥中由于物料的介电特性指标及表观导热、气体渗流、气相导热、液相导热等系数变化,从而影响泡沫果浆料层中传热、传质过程。泡沫果浆传热及传质系数变化,影响泡沫果浆内部热传导及水分传递,温度及含水率直接影响泡沫果浆介电特性指标,进而影响物料微波能吸收。气流在料层边界热对流量及料层内的热传导量是表征气流、微波协同作用的主要指标,当料层边界热对流量与内部热传导量比值低于27.79时,气流与微波协同作用产生正向效应,提高微波能利用率;当料层边界热对流量与内部热传导量比值高于27.79时,此协同作用产生负向效应,降低微波能利用率;气流携带泡沫果浆中蒸发出的水蒸气,降低物料表层湿空气压力,导致泡沫果浆气泡的产生和破裂,强化传热传质过程,进而提高料层内温度及含水率分布均匀性。当气流速度小于1.5m/s时,气流速度与干燥均匀性呈显著正相关;当气流速度大于1.5m/s时,气流速度对物料干燥均匀性影响不显著;在气流速度为1.5m/s时,干燥时间短,微波能利用率最高,相比无通风时提高了17.57%,微波能吸收量、温度及含水率分布的均匀度分别提高了20%、19%及27%,符合低能耗、高品质的浆果干燥生产要求,研究结果为浆果微波泡沫干燥工艺优化提供依据。     

射流撞击式低压喷头设计与水力性能试验

为分散喷头主射流,提高喷头的喷洒均匀度,使喷头适用于农业低压喷灌,该研究结合射流与撞击流提出了一种射流撞击式旋转喷头。首先对比了射流撞击喷头与射流不撞击喷头的水力性能,通过正交试验分析了各结构参数值对射程和组合均匀系数的影响,得到副喷嘴结构优化参数,最后将优化后的射流撞击喷头与改进前的传统15PY2喷头进行水力性能及水滴粒径分布对比。研究结果表明,射流撞击使射程末端水量高点降低,同时射程得到提升,射程平均提升4.39%,在相同压力及组合间距下覆盖范围更大。影响喷头工作性能的结构参数依次为副喷管长度、副喷嘴进口锥角、副喷管内径、副喷嘴仰角,而副喷嘴仰角对射程与组合均匀系数影响最大,15型射流撞击喷头最佳结构参数组合为：副喷管长度20 mm、副喷嘴进口锥角55°、副喷管内径6 mm、副喷嘴仰角33°。射流撞击喷头在压力150～300 kPa下组合均匀系数和综合评分均高过传统15PY2喷头,组合均匀系数平均提升4.84%,综合性能平均提升4%,证明了射流撞击应用于旋转式喷头具有优势。在射程前中段,150和250 kPa下射流撞击喷头水滴直径更大;在射程后段,150 kPa下射流撞击喷头水滴直径更大,但在250 kPa下水滴直径更小。研究所得到的喷头结构及结论可为后续研究射流撞击对水力性能的影响提供参考。     

通风改善发芽糙米微波连续干燥均匀性

为了提高发芽糙米微波干燥的均匀性,采用台架试验、计算模拟和理论分析相结合的研究方法,分析微波干燥机内料层上微波能分布规律,研究微波干燥时风速对发芽糙米干燥均匀性影响。结果表明:在波导馈口平行的微波干燥机上,馈口间存在耗损和反射,微波能利用率降低;在微波干燥过程中,通入室温空气带走发芽糙米蒸发出的水蒸气:风速低携带水蒸气能力弱,而风速高会导致气流分布不均匀,合适风速在0.5~1.0 m/s。在微波干燥时引入通风方式,可提高微波干燥均匀性,从干燥工艺方面解决因电场分布引起干燥均匀性差的问题。研究结果为微波干燥机的干燥腔结构设计和干燥工艺优化提供依据。     

免耕播种机开沟圆盘水射流淬火工艺数值模拟及验证

针对免耕播种机开沟圆盘整体淬火后硬度不足且易翘曲变形的问题,该文提出一种水冲击射流淬火方法,利用DEFORM软件对开沟圆盘淬火过程中的硬度和翘曲变形量进行数值模拟,分析了射流阵列参数(喷嘴间距、喷嘴直径和射流速度)对淬火结果的影响,并对工艺参数的优选数值进行了试验验证,二者显示了较好的一致性。结果表明:喷嘴间距是关键工艺参数,当喷嘴间距取4~5 mm时,开沟圆盘可以整体淬透,硬度达到45~49 HRC。开沟圆盘的变形量与喷嘴间距呈抛物线关系,当喷嘴间距取5~6 mm时,变形量达到最大值1.80×10-2~3.30×10-2 mm,淬透后变形量较小。随射流速度的增大,开沟圆盘硬度及变形量均增加,当射流速度为1~6 m/s时,增幅较大,当射流速度6 m/s时,增幅趋缓。在喷嘴直径为4~12 mm范围内,开沟圆盘硬度及变形量均随喷嘴直径加大而增加。优化后的工艺参数为:喷嘴间距为4~5 mm,喷嘴直径为6~8 mm,射流速度为3~6 m/s;此时,开沟圆盘硬度可达45~49 HRC,变形量为1.28×10-2~2.49×10-2 mm。     

风机顶置和直对式隧道干燥机对比试验研究

人们普遍使用传统隧道式干燥机生产脱水菜。它的热风机在顶部或侧面。研究表明，风机顶置式隧道干燥机的风速分布很不均匀，并且在干燥室的上部有两个相对风速很小的区域，导致干燥不均匀和霉变发生。该文采用风机放置在(干燥室)前面的结构形式，使空气流动均匀。干燥胡萝卜粒的结果表明，含水率由原来的11%～20%变为11%～13%。脱每千克水降低能耗2.25 MJ。干燥时间缩短13%。但是占地面积要比风机顶置式大19%。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Biodiversity and ecogeography of wild Lactuca spp. in some European countries

Staff members of the Department of Botany of Palacký University in Olomouc and Gene Bank Department – Workplace Olomouc, Research Institute of Crop Production in Prague, Czech Republic, conducted an expedition in seven European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland) in August/September 1999 to collect wild Lactuca spp. germplasm and study its geographic distribution, ecology and biodiversity. During the mission, more than 600 locations were visited resulting in the collection of 602 seed samples (accessions) of wild Lactuca species and 13 seed samples of related genera (Chondrilla and Mycelis). Lactuca serriola f. serriola, L. serriola f. integrifolia, L. saligna and L. viminea subsp. chondrilliflora were prevalent in southern Europe (Italy, France), however, only L. serriola was common in central and western Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland). The greatest diversity of Lactuca species was found in France, where also the most seed samples (165) were collected. The most characteristic habitats with a high density of Lactuca spp. populations were observed along roads and highways, grassy ditches, ruderal communities, and dust-heaps. Natural infections by powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) and downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) on some wild Lactuca spp. were observed. Recent observations concerning the geographic distribution, population structure, habitats, and natural occurrence of diseases of Lactuca spp. are discussed. This assemblage of genetic resources of Lactuca spp. can serve as the basis of future studies of species diversification, spatial population structure, plant microevolution, domestication processes, and genetic variability of host-parasite interactions.     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Properties of anaerobically digested and composted municipal solid waste assessed by linking soil mesofauna dynamics and nitrogen modelling

We have studied the effect of anaerobically digested (ADMSW) and composted municipal solid waste (CMSW) on mineralization and foodweb dynamics to verify the hypothesis that ADMSW would immobilize N right after addition to soil in contrast to addition with CMSW. Another hypothesis was that the mesofauna (enchytraeids and microarthropods) would stimulate N release from the decomposer community. We measured excretion of -N and urea-N from the mesofauna and hypothesized that enchytraeids would release urea. ADMSW and CMSW were amended to pots with sandy loam and barley. The pots were divided into treatments with or without mesofauna. Mesofauna, plant N and biomass, soil N and ergosterol (fungal biomass) were measured over a 113-day period of four equidistant samplings. Soil respiration, N mineralization and N release by the mesofauna were modelled from concurrent studies. ADMSW- and CMSW-treated soils initially (<20 days) immobilized N. The amendments did not increase plant growth substantially, and this was probably due to N-limitation in the early stages of plant growth. Enchytraeid abundance was about three times higher in ADMSW- than CMSW-treated soils, indicating that ADMSW contained more labile compounds, bacteria, and microfauna. The mesofauna did not affect N-content, but the cumulated -N excreted by the mesofauna was estimated to be substantial and about one-fifth of total plant N in ADMSW. An explanation for this discrepancy might be that in the absence of the mesofauna, other members of the detrivore and microbivore community performed the mesofauna’s function. Neither enchytraeids nor microarthropods excreted urea.     

Faculty positions: Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Faculty positions: Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Assessing the effectiveness of conservation measures: Resolving the “wicked” problem of the Steller sea lion

“Wicked” problems are those that are complex and that change when solutions are applied. Many conflicts in conservation fall into this category. The study approached the problem of how to constrain the apparent wickedness of a problem in the conservation management of a species by using simple empirical indicators to carry out iterative assessment of the risk to a population and to document how this risk evolves in relation to the addition of new data and the implementation of management actions. Effects of high levels of uncertainty within data and also concerning population structure were examined through stochastic simulation and by exploration of scenarios. Historical trends in the example used, the Steller sea lion, showed rapid declines in abundance in some regions during the 1980s. The current total population is 130,000-150,000 Steller sea lions through Alaska and British Columbia and this number has been stable since about 1990 in spite of regional differences in population dynamics. Regional differences in the sequence of changes in the number of pups and non-pups, suggested that an internal re-distribution of juveniles could have happened between 1980 and 1990. Current productivity also appears close to the long-term mean. Stochastic population projection using various scenarios showed that, based upon this history, the risk of extinction for the population has declined and is below reasonable thresholds for considering the population to be endangered. The trends in risk suggest that management actions taken since 1990 have probably been effective. Consequently, the conservation management objectives for the Steller sea lion are probably being met. The approach provides a mechanism, based upon experience and scenario analysis, for exploring future policy options and may help to constrain the debate amongst stakeholders about the cost-benefit trade-offs associated with different options.     

Soil-profile distribution of primary and secondary plant-available nutrients under conventional and no tillage

Nutrient distributions under no tillage (NT) compared with conventional disk-and-bed tillage (CT) management in the warm, humid region of the southeastern USA need to be assessed so that future placement, quantity, and type of fertilizers can be altered, if necessary, to efficiently match crop demands. We determined soil-profile distributions of pH, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu to a depth of 0.9 m at the end of 8.5 years of continuous CT and NT management on a Weswood silty clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Fluventic Ustochrept) in southcentral Texas. Most dramatic changes occurred within the 0–0.05 m depth, where soil under NT had lower pH, Fe, and Cu than under CT, but greater P, K, Zn, and Mn. Greater P and K under NT than under CT also occurred below the till-zone (0.15–0.3 m). At a depth of 0–0.3 m, soil under NT contained greater amounts of extractable P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu than under CT. Nitrogen fertilization had little effect on nutrient distributions, except resulting in greater extractable K at 0–0.05 m and greater nitrate at 0–0.15 m. Few changes in soil-profile distributions were observed for extractable S, Ca, Mg, and Na. Long-term continuous use of NT on this fine-textured, high-fertility (except for N) soil had no apparent adverse effects on nutrient distributions relative to CT, but enhanced conservation and availability of P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu near the soil surface where crop roots proliferate.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.