水稻土好氧甲烷氧化菌对大气CO2浓度升高的适应规律

CH4是仅次于CO2的第二大温室气体,而稻田是CH4的主要排放源,但未来大气CO2浓度升高情景下（elevated CO2, eCO2）,水稻土好氧甲烷氧化过程及其功能微生物群落适应规律尚不清楚。本研究依托中国FACE（Free Air CO2 Enrichment）水稻田试验平台,通过13C-CH4示踪的室内微宇宙培养实验,采用稳定性同位素核酸探针（DNA-SIP）和高通量测序技术,研究了未来大气CO2浓度升高对水稻土甲烷氧化活性及其功能微生物的影响规律。研究结果表明：与常规大气CO2浓度（ambient CO2, aCO2）相比,eCO2条件下的甲烷氧化活性显著增加,从243 nmol g-1 d.w.s h-1增加至302 mol g-1 d.w.s h-1,增幅高达24.3%,甲烷氧化菌数量则增加了1.1~1.2倍。通过超高速离心获得活性甲烷氧化菌同化13CH4后合成的13C-DNA,高通量测序发现,未来大气CO2升高情景下水稻土活性好氧甲烷氧化微生物群落极可能发生明显演替,与对照相比,类型I甲烷氧化菌甲基杆菌属Methylobacter的相对丰度增加16.2%~17.0%,而甲基八叠球菌属Methylosarcina的相对丰度下降4.7%-11.1%;同时刺激了食酸菌属Acidovorax和假单胞菌属Pseudomonas等非甲烷氧化菌的活性。这些研究结果表明：未来大气CO2升高情景下,水稻土好氧甲烷氧化微生物群落结构发生分异,促进了甲烷氧化通量,而甲烷氧化的代谢产物可能引发土壤中微生物食物网的级联反应,是土壤碳储存和周转的重要功能微生物群。     

稻田亚硝酸盐型甲烷厌氧氧化对大气CO2浓度缓增的响应

亚硝酸盐型甲烷厌氧氧化（nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation, n-damo）是控制稻田甲烷排放的一种新途径，但有关其在稻田甲烷氧化中的贡献及其对大气CO2升高的响应尚不清楚。本文依托开顶式气室组成的CO2浓度自动调控平台，在环境 CO2浓度（CK）基础上，设置了CO2缓增处理（EC：每年增加 40 μL·L-1, 至采样时CO2浓度为CK+160 μL·L-1）。采用稳定性同位素示踪、定量PCR和高通量测序等手段，分析了不同CO2处理下水稻关键生育期（分蘖期、拔节期和开花期）稻田n-damo活性及其功能微生物Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera (M. oxyfera)-like细菌的丰度、多样性和群落组成。结果发现，EC处理在一定程度上刺激了土壤中n-damo活性以及M. oxyfera-like细菌丰度，且在拔节期达到了显著性水平。EC处理还使M. oxyfera-like细菌的群落组成发生了显著改变，并影响了其多样性。EC处理下土壤可溶性有机碳含量和无机氮含量的改变很可能是导致n-damo活性及M. oxyfera-like细菌群落结构发生变化的重要原因。综上，稻田n-damo过程对大气CO2浓度缓增具有正响应，表明了其在未来气候变化背景下对稻田甲烷减排的积极作用。     

不同耕作方式下稻田土壤CH4和CO2的排放及碳收支估算

二氧化碳（CO2）和甲烷（CH4）是重要的温室气体,研究免耕稻田CO2和CH4排放有助于评价稻田免耕技术对全球气候变化及碳循环的影响。本文通过运用静态箱技术和田间原位碱液吸收法研究了免耕稻田土壤CO2和CH4的排放规律和排放量,及其稻田碳（C）的收支状况。研究表明,施肥提高了CH4排放,而不影响CO2的排放;免耕显著影响稻田CH4排放,而CO2的排放不受耕作影响。对稻田C收支及平衡的分析表明,施肥提高了稻田系统C的输入,同时,相对于翻耕处理,免耕处理表现为大气C的“汇”,表明了稻田免耕能将更多的碳累积于农田土壤碳库中,有利于提高稻田生态系统在减缓气温上升过程中所发挥的作用。     

水稻根系内生细菌对未来大气CO2浓度升高的响应

针对中国FACE（Free Air CO2 Enrichment）平台的镇籼96、扬稻8号、II优084和扬两优6号四种水稻品种,采用新一代高通量测序技术,研究了水稻根系内生菌的整体微生物群落对未来大气CO2浓度升高的响应。结果表明,水稻内生菌群落中γ-变形菌纲的肠杆菌科相对丰度最高,占整体微生物群落的30.8%~59.8%。对于镇籼96、扬稻8号和II优084三种水稻品种,大气CO2浓度升高可能抑制了数量上占优势的微生物菌群（优势菌群）生长,而促进了数量上不占优势的微生物菌群（稀少菌群）繁殖。例如,对于II优084品种,相对丰度高于14.6%的4种水稻内生菌为肠杆菌科、假单胞菌科、黄单胞菌科和气单胞菌科,大气CO2浓度升高,这些优势菌群的相对丰度由74.8%降为67.2%;相反,稀少菌群主要由鞘脂杆菌科、丛毛单胞菌科、黄杆菌科及草酸杆菌科组成,其相对丰度则由4.13%增至16.9%,其中,与对照处理相比,鞘脂杆菌科相对丰度增加比例高达344倍,是大气CO2浓度升高的最敏感微生物类群。但对于水稻品种扬两优6号,根系内生菌对大气CO2浓度升高的响应模式与其他它三种品种不完全一致。这些研究结果表明,微生物的相对丰度可能是影响水稻根系内生菌对大气CO2浓度升高响应的重要因素,为研究全球变化下整体微生物结构与功能的演变规律提供了一定的依据。     

稻田水分管理和秸秆还田对甲烷排放的微生物影响

为了探讨不同水分管理和秸秆还田对稻田甲烷排放的影响机理,依托中国科学院亚热带农业生态研究所长沙农业环境监测研究站长期定位试验,选择长期淹水(CF)、秸秆还田+长期淹水(HS+CF)、常规灌溉(IF)、秸秆还田+常规灌溉(HS+IF)4个处理,应用限制性片段长度多态技术(T-RFLP)和实时荧光定量PCR技术在DNA和c DNA水平对比研究不同水分管理和秸秆还田影响稻田土壤甲烷排放的微生物分子机理。结果表明:长期淹水处理的甲烷排放量显著高于常规灌溉处理,秸秆还田处理对甲烷排放的影响不显著。产甲烷菌和甲烷氧化菌群落结构只对土壤水分管理产生响应,对秸秆还田没有响应。水分管理和秸秆还田显著影响产甲烷菌的数量,却对甲烷氧化菌数量没有影响。产甲烷菌和甲烷氧化菌群落组成和表达群落组成存在明显的分异,c DNA水平上产甲烷菌和甲烷氧化菌表达群落组成对水分管理的响应比DNA水平群落组成更敏感。稻田甲烷排放通量与mcr A和pmo A基因丰度和表达丰度均没有显著相关性,只与DNA水平基因丰度比值(mcr A/pmo A)呈显著正相关关系。可以看出,长期淹水处理可以通过改变土壤中产甲烷菌和甲烷氧化菌的群落结构和数量及两者数量的比例来调控甲烷的排放量。     

大气CO2浓度缓增对稻田土壤甲烷氧化过程的影响

微生物介导的甲烷好氧氧化,对控制稻田甲烷排放起着重要作用。本文从基因、群落、活性等多个层次上解析CO₂浓度缓增对稻田土壤甲烷好氧氧化过程的影响及其作用机理。依托于田间CO₂浓度自动调控平台,在背景CO₂浓度(AC)基础上,设置了CO₂浓度缓增处理(每年增加40μL·L^-1,持续4年)(EC)。采用室内泥浆培养以及高通量测序和定量PCR技术,对不同CO₂处理下水稻关键生育期(分蘖期、拔节期、扬花期和乳熟期)土壤中的甲烷氧化潜势及其功能微生物的丰度和群落结构进行了系统研究。结果表明：大气CO₂浓度升高促进了稻田甲烷氧化潜势和甲烷氧化菌丰度的增加;CO₂浓度升高还使得土壤中甲烷氧化菌的群落结构发生了显著变化,其优势菌从Ⅱ型菌转变为Ⅰ型菌。CO₂浓度升高所致的土壤中甲烷、氧气浓度以及氮素水平等的改变很可能对稻田甲烷氧化过程产生了重要影响。综合本研究发现,稻田甲烷氧化过程对大气CO₂     

间隙灌溉和控释肥施用对稻田土壤产甲烷微生物的影响

间隙灌溉和控释肥施用影响稻田CH_4的产生和排放,然而其微生物机理尚不清楚。本研究通过采集稻季田间原位试验新鲜土样,采用核酸定量技术(qPCR)和末端限制性片段长度多态性(T-RFLP)技术,研究间隙灌溉和控释肥施用对稻田土壤产甲烷微生物群落丰度和结构的影响。结果表明,稻季CH_4排放量与古菌、产甲烷菌(mcr A基因)和甲烷氧化菌(pmo A基因)数量均呈极显著正相关关系(P0.01),而与细菌数量无显著相关性。间隙灌溉显著影响产甲烷菌和甲烷氧化菌数量的季节变化,其中烤田抑制产甲烷菌生长,而对甲烷氧化菌数量没有显著影响。与尿素相比,施用控释肥增加了稻田土壤细菌、古菌和产甲烷菌数量,降低了甲烷氧化菌数量。土壤古菌群落的优势T-RFs片段为184bp和391bp,其中184bp片段的相对丰度随着间隙灌溉的进行由45%~55%降低到23%~30%;而391bp片段则相反,其相对丰度由12%~18%增加到23%~26%。典型相关性分析(CCA)表明间隙灌溉显著影响土壤古菌群落结构(P0.001),而控释肥施用对土壤古菌群落结构没有明显影响。     

不同温度下尿素对水稻土甲烷产生及相关古菌群落的影响

水稻田是大气甲烷的重要排放源。尿素氮肥施用是提升水稻产量和品质的重要措施,但其对稻田土壤中产甲烷古菌的影响规律仍不清楚。通过模拟水稻生长季节可能的田间温度变化,本文对水稻土进行施加尿素（400 mg N/kgdry soil）与未施加尿素（0 mg N/kgdry soil）两个处理,并在15℃、25℃、37℃以及50℃四个温度下进行为期100d的厌氧培养,定期测定了培养过程中产甲烷累积量以及土壤理化因子pH、铵氮以及有机碳的变化。并运用基于16S rRNA基因的T-RFLP（末端限制性片段多态性分析）技术分析了产甲烷过程中古菌群落结构随时间的变化情况。结果表明,在中低温范围内（15℃-37℃）,尿素对水稻土产甲烷有抑制作用,但在50℃高温下尿素对水稻土产甲烷量没有显著影响。尿素可能通过改变产甲烷古菌群落结构来影响产甲烷,在15℃-37℃范围内,尿素降低了水稻土产甲烷古菌群落的稳定性,增大了其在不同时间的差异性;而在50℃高温时,尿素对水稻土产甲烷古菌稳定性和差异性的影响不明显。不同温度下,尿素均降低了甲烷八叠球菌（Methanosarcinaceae）的丰度,且随着温度的变化,尿素对水稻土产甲烷机制的改变可能没有影响。     

稻田甲烷排放影响因素及其研究进展

CH4是大气中仅次于CO2的最重要的温室气体之一,其温室效应贡献已达15～20%。中国稻田是CH4的重要排放源,对全球大气的CH4排放起着重要的作用。本文较为详细地介绍了近几十年来国内外关于稻田CH4排放的研究进展。对稻田CH4的排放机理、CH4的排放规律及影响稻田CH4排放的各种因素作了详细分析,并相应地提出了控制稻田CH4排放的各种措施,最后提出了今后我国稻田CH4排放研究应加强的几个方面内容。     

自由大气CO2浓度升高对稻田CH_4排放的影响研究

采用FACE田间试验,对高CO2浓度影响稻田CH4排放规律进行了观测分析,并利用δ13C技术初步分析了土壤CH4的排放来源。结果显示,植株和土壤的CH4排放速率在高CO2浓度处理大于对照18%以上,其增加幅度为土壤大于植物,CH4排放速率可能受田间水分条件影响较大。与对照比较,高CO2浓度条件下植物和土壤部分CH4累积排放总量增加,且变化幅度随生长期而降低,前期（54d）常规氮处理（NN）高于低氮处理（LN）,后期LN高于NN;但是行间裸土CH4累积排放总量在前期（54d）增加和之后降低的幅度均为NN高于LN。土壤排放CH4δ13C值从移栽到第102d,高CO2浓度处理LN和NN水平下土壤对照（CK）仅分别升高9.0%和8.3%,种水稻则降低8.8%和8.1%;但是在对照CO2浓度条件下土壤对照降低17.2%和112.5%（P=0.047）,种水稻降低40.3%和105.9%（P=0.023）,表明高CO2浓度下有更多C4来源的碳释放,对照CO2浓度条件下有更多C3来源的碳释放。水稻不同生长期与土壤对照比较,种水稻土壤排放CH4δ13C值降低的幅度总和在高CO2浓度条件LN和NN水平下分别为114.8%和72.7%,对照CO2浓度条件下分别为41.9%和72.8%,表明在种有植物的情况下更多当季的碳分解释放,LN水平下高CO2浓度促进来源于当季碳的CH4排放,NN水平下没有发现CO2浓度的影响,可能与作物生物量和它的间接产物（根系分泌物）的影响有关。     

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,     

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.     

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.