添加木质素降解菌对堆肥中酶活性的影响

以奶牛粪便和稻草为堆腐材料,采用静态好氧堆肥的方式研究接种木质素降解菌对堆肥过程中的温度、pH等理化性质以及木质素降解酶活性动态变化的特征,从生物酶学角度考察人工接入外源菌剂对堆肥的影响。结果表明,接菌后的堆肥处理较CK早2 d进入高温期,并且维持时间多于CK 12 d。发酵前8 d pH值的上升幅度大且高于CK,而且接种处理比对照的C/N提前5 d达到20∶1,提早达到腐熟指标,加快堆肥腐熟化进程。堆肥中酶活分析结果表明,加入菌剂后,β-葡萄糖苷水解酶在堆置第6 d达到第一个峰值14.7μmol,较CK早6 d;羧甲基纤维素钠酶在第12 d达到峰值3 270 U,同比CK高出1 220 U;漆酶酶活峰值高达93.5U,而CK峰值只有82.8 U;锰过氧化物酶进入高温期后酶活最高为75.25 U,CK最高为54.8 U。由此可见,加入微生物菌剂后可使相关酶活性提高并提高堆体温度,加快堆肥腐熟,加速堆料中各种有机质的降解,提高微生物对底物的利用,从而提高好氧堆肥的效率。     

接种菌剂对猪粪高温堆肥中酶活性的影响

在静态通气条件下,以猪粪为原料,以小麦秸秆作为调节物质,分别用接种复合微生物和常规堆肥两个处理研究了高温堆肥过程中酶活性的变化特征,并对其与堆料E4/E6和电导率（EC）的相互关系进行了探讨。结果表明,接种菌剂堆肥显著地提高了堆料的温度,延长了高温腐解期,有效地提高了猪粪堆肥过程中各种酶的活性和峰值。酶活性的大小因酶种类和堆肥时期的不同而各异;纤维素酶和蔗糖酶在高温期的活性高,在低温期急速下降;脲酶和多酚氧化酶活性峰值出现在堆肥后期低温阶段;脱氢酶活性峰值出现在堆肥中期,过氧化氢酶活性在整个堆肥过程中呈持续下降的趋势。接种菌剂处理和CK处理堆肥期间的EC值均与纤维素酶和脱氢酶活性呈显著的正相关（p＜0.01）;E4/E6与过氧化氢酶活性成显著正相关（p＜0.01）,说明酶活性大小是反映堆肥过程中矿质化过程和腐殖化过程生物化学进程的很好指标。     

氧化还原类酶活性在小麦秸秆静态高温堆肥过程中的变化

选取小麦秸秆为试验材料,采取发酵罐处理方法,在静态通气条件下研究了堆腐过程中堆体温度变化、氧化还原类酶活性变化、温度与酶活性变化的关系、不同酶活性之间的关系。结果表明：（1）添加微生物菌剂处理较不添加微生物菌剂处理（CK）升温快、温度高、高温持续时间长;添加微生物菌剂处理堆体温度第2d上升到50℃以上,第3d达最高温度67.1℃,50℃以上持续6d;CK堆肥第3d达到50℃,第4d达最高温度59.5℃,50℃以上持续5d。（2）过氧化氢酶活性初期较低,中期迅速升高,并维持在较高水平,堆肥第10d到堆肥结束,添加微生物菌剂处理的过氧化氢酶活性明显高于CK;添加菌剂处理多酚氧化酶活性在堆肥前期和后期高于CK,说明添加菌剂可加速木质素的降解及其产物的转化;添加菌剂处理的脱氢酶活性在堆肥中期显著高于CK;添加菌剂处理的过氧化物酶从堆肥第12d到堆肥结束活性均高于CK的过氧化物酶活性,表明添加微生物菌剂可促进物质的氧化。（3）脱氢酶活性和过氧化物酶活性在堆肥中期达到最高值,两者变化趋势相同;过氧化氢酶活性、脱氢酶活性、过氧化物酶活性在堆腐后期比较稳定,多酚氧化酶活性堆腐后期呈增长趋势。     

复合微生物菌剂在污泥高温好氧堆肥中的应用

试验研究复合微生物菌剂在污泥高温好氧堆肥中的应用结果表明,污泥高温好氧堆肥中接种复合微生物菌剂对缩短达到高温期的时间以及增加堆体中细菌、真菌、放线菌数量效果不显著,但接种复合微生物菌剂处理高温持续时间相对较长,且提前3d达到腐熟。     

不同禽畜粪便静态高温堆肥过程中蔗糖酶活性的变化

在静态通气条件下,以养殖场鸡粪、猪粪、牛粪为材料,小麦秸秆作为堆肥调节物质,分别研究了接种微生物菌剂（接种菌剂处理）和不加菌剂（对照处理）堆肥过程中蔗糖酶活性的变化特征及其与温度的关系。结果表明,接种菌剂处理与对照处理在堆肥过程中蔗糖酶活性的变化趋势基本一致,即在高温腐解期蔗糖酶活性持续较高,在低温腐殖化期蔗糖酶活性急剧下降,且维持较低水平。接种菌剂能明显地提高堆肥过程蔗糖酶的活性,酶活性峰值高且出现时间较对照早4～8d。供试的3种物料蔗糖酶活性差异不显著,接种菌剂处理鸡粪、猪粪和牛粪蔗糖酶活性的最高值分别为87．84、81．3和86．8mg·（g·d）^-1,对照处理分别为62．9、60．9和63．79mg·（g·d）^-1,但3种物料接种菌剂和对照处理酶活性峰值出现的时间不尽相同,鸡粪的两种处理相同,猪粪加菌剂比对照提早8d,牛粪加菌剂较对照早4d出现。整个堆肥过程中蔗糖酶活性与堆体温度变化关系密切,对照处理堆体温度与蔗糖酶活性的关系为一元二次方程,表现为高温腐解期为显著性直线负相关,低温腐殖化期为显著性直线正相关,而加菌剂处理堆体温度和蔗糖酶活性间为极显著直线正相关。     

微生物菌剂浓度对梨树废弃枝条堆肥化处理的影响

研究了不同菌剂接种浓度下,梨树废弃枝条堆制成的有机肥的腐熟程度和养分状况,结果表明,接种菌剂处理可以延长高温期时间,提高堆体温度,且与菌剂浓度成正比,堆体全氮、磷、钾、钙含量显著提高,有效的提升了堆肥产物的腐熟程度和营养成分。接种菌剂浓度为0.20%～0.30%时处理效果最佳。     

外源微生物对堆肥理化性质及酶活影响的研究

利用牛粪和稻草为原料进行堆肥实验,通过测定堆肥过程中的温度、含水率等物理、化学指标以及酶活性的变化,研究了接种外源微生物对堆肥过程的影响。结果表明,接种外源微生物比对照提前2d达到高温期,并且维持时间长。大肠杆菌数量及植物毒性比不接种大幅度降低,纤维素酶、脲酶、多酚氧化酶、过氧化氢酶均有所增加。说明接种外源微生物可以使堆肥中微生物数量增多,加速堆料中有机物的分解,加快堆肥腐熟,缩短堆肥反应的进程,对优化堆肥工艺具有重要的意义。     

生活垃圾微生物强化堆肥对放线菌群落的影响

为了探讨微生物强化堆肥对生活垃圾好氧堆肥过程及堆肥过程中放线菌群落的影响,在堆肥过程中接种高效细菌复合菌剂和真菌复合菌剂,并以不接种的堆体为对照,对堆肥过程的温度变化和木质纤维素的降解效率进行了测定,并借助于PCR-DGGE方法对堆肥过程中放线菌群落的动态变化和种群多样性进行研究。结果表明：微生物强化堆肥能缩短堆体起爆时间,并能有效提高堆体降温期和二次发酵期的温度;和自然堆肥相比微生物强化堆肥使半纤维素、纤维素和木质素的降解率分别提高8.95%、12.72%和10.13%。DGGE图谱显示：2种堆肥方式的放线菌多样性指数表现出极显著差异,微生物强化堆肥能增加堆体中优势菌群的种类和数量,能有效提高腐熟期的放线菌群落多样性,有利于堆肥腐熟。优势条带测序结果表明：在接种堆肥过程中检测到了放线菌门的棒杆菌属、分支杆菌属、链霉菌属、热孢菌属、迪茨菌属、糖丝菌属和放线菌属。     

重金属Cu对堆肥过程中微生物群落代谢和水解酶活性的影响

为了探讨重金属Cu对堆肥过程的影响,以猪粪、麦秸、废菌糠为原料并接种复合微生物菌剂,在静态堆肥条件下,研究了Cu对堆肥过程中温度、微生物群落代谢能力和水解酶活性的变化。结果表明,CK处理（不添加Cu）高温期维持5d（其中55℃以上维持4d）达到无害化的温度要求;添加Cu处理后,L处理（Cu浓度为100mg.kg-1）高温期（〉50℃）只持续4d;H处理（Cu浓度为500mg.kg-1）在整个堆肥过程中只有1d超过55℃,高温期只维持2d,L、H处理均未达到无害化的温度要求。以Biolog方法为主要检测手段并结合聚类分析和主成分分析方法,分析了重金属Cu对堆肥过程中微生物群落代谢能力的影响,结果表明,低剂量Cu能提高微生物群落对聚合物类碳源的转化与利用的能力,高剂量Cu对微生物群落利用中间代谢物和复杂大分子类碳源产生一定的抑制作用。水解酶活性分析结果表明,低剂量Cu对水解酶有一定的激活效应,高剂量Cu对水解酶有一定的抑制效应。     

微生物菌剂对猪粪堆肥过程中堆肥理化性质和优势细菌群落的影响

  【目的】  掌握猪粪堆肥过程中微生物群落的演替规律与理化指标的相互关系,对提高猪粪堆肥营养品质和加速堆肥进程具有重要的意义。  【方法】  以猪粪和玉米秸秆 (质量比6∶1) 混合物为堆肥原料,耐高温菌剂主要含Acinetobacter pittii、Bacillus subtilis subsp. Stercoris和Bacillus altitudinis。堆体设接种菌剂 (MI) 和未接种 (对照,CK) 两个处理。常规监测堆肥温度和理化指标值,于堆肥开始后第4、12、24和32天采集样品,以16S rRNA高通量测序技术研究堆肥细菌群落的变化。用堆肥第4、12、24和32天采集的新鲜样品制备浸提液,进行紫花苜蓿种子发芽试验。堆肥结束时,测定全氮、全磷和全钾含量,并探讨微生物菌剂对堆肥理化指标和细菌群落演替的影响。  【结果】  接种微生物菌剂可使堆肥高温期提前2天出现,并且能延长高温期2天。堆肥浸提液的促生试验发现,在堆肥24天后紫花苜蓿种子发芽指数 (GI) 大于80%,且MI对幼苗主根的促生能力大于CK (P < 0.05)。随着发酵过程的进行,堆体体积不断缩小,CK和MI中全钾 (TK) 和全磷 (TP) 含量一直呈增加趋势,在堆肥第32天,CK和MI的全磷含量分别为2.28%和2.63%,处理间差异显著 (P < 0.05),而全钾含量分别为1.81%和1.86%,全氮含量分别为2.65%和2.63%,pH分别为8.72和8.78,处理间差异均不显著。在整个堆肥过程中,MI和CK的pH变化范围分别为8.40～8.95和8.61～8.93;CK和MI中总有机碳 (TOC) 的降解速率在堆肥的4～12和24～32天均表现为MI大于CK,CK和MI的碳氮比 (C/N) 分别为13.28和15.26,差异显著 (P < 0.05)。堆肥过程中在门水平上占据主导地位的细菌群落主要包括 Proteobacteria、Actinobacteria、Firmicutes和Bacteroidetes,在堆肥的高温期 (堆肥24天),堆体CK和MI中Firmicutes的相对丰富度分别为17.4%和59.8%;在堆肥的升温期、高温期和腐熟期,优势门水平细菌群落Proteobacteria、Firmicutes和Actinobacteria依次演替,且MI堆体中细菌群落的相对丰度均大于CK。属水平优势细菌为Acinetobacter、Lysinibacillus、Solibacillus、Pseudomonas和Flavobacterium,添加微生物菌剂可使Acinetobacter的丰度在堆肥第4天增加21.41%,此外,添加复合微生物可使堆肥第12天的Shannon和Observed species指数增加。相关性分析表明,温度、全N (TN)、TP、TK、TOC及GI与堆体中细菌组成具有显著相关性,而pH和细菌的相关性不显著。  【结论】  在堆体内接种微生物菌剂可显著提高并维持堆肥过程中优势门、属细菌群落的丰度,进而促进堆体升温并延长高温时期,缩短堆肥腐熟周期,加快总有机碳的分解,最终提高堆肥产品中有效磷的含量。复合微生物菌剂在堆肥升温期起主要作用的为Acinetobacter pittii,高温期为Bacillus subtilis subsp. Stercoris和Bacillus altitudinis,我们建议筛选耐高温细菌时应集中在厚壁菌门的芽孢杆菌属。     

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.