纳滤膜法处理阿斯巴甜高含盐有机废水试验

为获取纳滤膜法处理阿斯巴甜高含盐有机废水的最佳操作工艺参数,建立了阿斯巴甜高含盐有机废水纳滤膜处理试验平台。对不同操作压力（1.6、2.0、2.4、2.8、3.2 MPa）、不同pH值（2、3、6、8、10）、不同温度（30、35、40、45、50 ℃）和不同进液流速（0.02、0.05、0.10、0.15、0.20 m/s）条件下,纳滤膜处理阿斯巴甜高含盐废水的膜通量、体积浓缩比、氯化钠去除率、氨基酸截留率和氨基酸回收率特性进行了试验研究。研究表明：采用纳滤膜处理阿斯巴甜高含盐有机废水,操作压力,温度、pH值和进液流速对纳滤膜的分离性能有不同程度的影响,试验得出的最佳操作压力为2.4 MPa,pH值为6,进液温度为40 ℃,进液流速为0.1 m/s,在该操作参数下,纳滤膜运行3 h,平均膜通量为21.5 L/（m2·h）,体积浓缩比为5.9,氯化钠去除率为96%,有机物L-苯丙氨酸和L-天冬氨酸截留率分别为89%和77%,L-苯丙氨酸和L-天冬氨酸回收率分别为90.6%和80.3%。试验研究为高含盐有机废水处理的工业应用提供了基础。     

秸秆低聚木糖溶液纳滤分离特性和渗滤工艺

该文研究了截留相对分子质量为250的纳滤膜分离以秸秆为原料生产的低聚木糖溶液的分离特性,并优化了渗滤纯化工艺。通过检测透过液和截留液中各糖组分的浓度,计算并得到了该膜对阿拉伯糖、木糖和聚合度（Degree of Polymerization）DP2到DP4的低聚木糖的截留率随膜通量变化的关系曲线;应用不可逆热力学模型对阿拉伯糖、木糖和DP2到DP4的低聚木糖中性溶质体系的截留率试验数据进行回归计算,求得了反射系数、溶质透过系数和水透过系数等膜分离特性参数,并根据立体位阻模型估算出膜的细孔结构参数。当糖液浓度为8.4%（总糖/糖浆）,膜系统温度控制在(30.1±2.1)℃,跨膜压差控制在(1.58±0.02)×106 Pa的恒定体积渗滤操作模式下,膜通量无衰减,稳定在(29.4±1.8) L/(m2·h),经3倍体积纳滤渗滤操作后,低聚木糖纯度由原料的83.33%（DP2到DP6低聚木糖/总糖）上升至92.54%,木二糖损失率为12.45%（对原料中的木二糖）,总糖回收率为88.39%（对原料中的总糖）。纳滤分离模型的研究为低聚木糖溶液的渗滤纯化和浓缩模拟并精确优化工艺提供了参数基础,使用纳滤膜在渗滤操作模式下,可以高效脱除单分子糖,同时低聚木糖损失较小。     

电渗析技术在大豆低聚糖溶液脱盐上的应用

从甜浆中提取的大豆低聚糖粗提液中含有很多的盐类,影响糖液的纯度。该试验通过离子交换膜辅助的电渗析法对大豆低聚糖模拟溶液进行脱盐处理,确定了较好的试验操作参数。试验结果表明:电渗析法对大豆低聚糖模拟液进行脱盐是可行的,且脱盐效果较好,脱盐率达到96.07%;该试验条件下较佳的工作电压为20 V,流量为60 L/h,样品稀释倍数为15倍。通过以上条件处理后,大豆低聚糖的保留率达到83.82%。     

利用集成膜工艺澄清与浓缩紫甘蓝花青素

为实现紫甘蓝花青素活性成分水提液的高效浓缩,该文集成了超滤、纳滤和反渗透膜技术澄清、浓缩紫甘蓝花青素水提液的工艺。采用"总循环模式"和"批处理模式"研究优化操作工艺。测定总花青素、pH值、总可溶性固形物和颜色指标。澄清工艺中:无机陶瓷超滤膜效果较好,较佳工艺为:陶瓷膜、跨膜压力0.3MPa、循环流量40L/min。浓缩工艺中:纳滤膜工作效率略高于反渗透膜,纳滤和反渗透较佳参数分别为跨膜压力1.0MP、循环流量25L/min,跨膜压力1.47MPa、循环流量10L/min。2种工艺均可得到品质优越的花青素浓缩产品。因此逐级膜过滤可利用于花青素的澄清和浓缩,为天然活性成分水提物的非热澄清及浓缩产业化生产提供参考。     

纳滤膜孔径对沼液超滤透过液养分富集与膜污染行为的影响

超滤（ultrafiltration，UF）能有效浓缩沼液，但透过液中仍含有大量养分，可进一步采用纳滤（nanofiltration，NF）等精密膜浓缩利用。NF膜的孔径会直接影响膜的截留特性和通量，从而影响浓缩性能。为了探究NF膜孔径对沼液浓缩过程养分富集效果和膜污染行为的影响，该研究以鸡粪沼液的UF透过液为研究对象，分别采用800 D、500 D、100 D的NF膜（平均膜孔径分别为2.0、1.0、0.5 nm）进行浓缩，重点分析养分截留效果和膜污染特征。结果表明：不同孔径的NF膜均能高效截留化学需氧量（chemical oxygen demand，COD）和总磷（total phosphorus，TP），截留率可达68%以上，但对总氮（total nitrogen，TN）和总钾（total potassium，TK）的截留较低，仅为19%～35%。随着膜孔径降低，NF对COD、TN、TP、TK的截留效果略有提高，但整体差异不明显。不同孔径NF膜在沼液浓缩过程均出现了明显的水通量降低。与1.0 nm的NF膜相比，0.5 nm膜较小的孔径和2.0 nm膜较大的初始通量均会导致膜表面有机-无机致密污染层的形成，从而造成水通量快速降低；而1.0 nm膜表面形成的以无机晶体为主的污染层较为疏松，通量下降较为缓慢。综合养分截留效果和水通量变化规律，确定孔径为1.0 nm的NF膜更适用于浓缩沼液的UF透过液，研究结果可为推动沼液膜浓缩的发展与工程应用提供理论与技术支撑。     

基于正渗透技术的沼液浓缩工艺优化

为解决沼液体积过大,难以实际应用的问题,采用正渗透技术对沼液进行浓缩。通过对不同条件下沼液正渗透浓缩工艺运行性能的研究,发现较优的膜朝向为活性层朝向沼液;错流速度宜采用20.5 cm/s;汲取液宜选择浓度为2 mol/L的MgCl_2溶液。在上述优化条件下将沼液浓缩至5倍。浓缩后的沼液中溶解性有机物、总磷、总氮、氨氮和总钾浓度均显著提高。正渗透膜对上述物质的截留率均达到80%以上。该研究为沼液正渗透浓缩技术的广泛应用提供了一定的技术基础。     

纳滤技术浓缩原料乳生产酸奶工艺

近年来,酸奶产品主要通过使用食品添加剂,而不是工艺创新达到改变酸奶感官状态的目的,导致酸奶产品更新缓慢。该研究将膜过滤技术引入酸奶生产,以期开发一种纳滤浓缩酸奶的新工艺,能够在不使用添加剂的情况下,生产黏性、咀嚼性及黏弹性较高,且抗管道运输能力较强的酸奶产品。考察浓缩时,均质及不同的温度及压力下,牛乳对纳滤膜通量的影响,以及乳成分的变化对酸奶质构及流变学参数的影响。结果表明,均质后,在65℃,1.6 MPa的条件下进行浓缩时平均膜通量约为7.5 L/(m2·h),浓缩时间约为35 min,能够应用到实际酸奶生产中。此时,一价离子,钠、钾,氯的截留率分别是40.8%,46.5%,及17.8%;二价离子,钙、镁的截留率分别为94.2%,95.7%;其他乳成分,乳糖、蛋白质的截留率分别是92.4%和94.8%。非脂乳干物质增加1.24倍,脂肪增加1.3倍。浓缩工艺生产酸奶的黏度为27.8 Pa·s,无浓缩工艺生产酸奶的黏度为16 Pa·s。经质构(texture profile analysis,TPA)测定发现,浓缩工艺生产的酸奶的硬度、胶黏性、胶着性、咀嚼性分别为0.4605 N,-0.6492 N·s,0.3253 N·s,0.2987 N·s,这些质构及流变学参数分别是无浓缩工艺生产的酸奶的4.18,1.36,4.87,5.08倍,可以用来生产具有较高管道耐受的、黏度及咀嚼性较高的酸奶产品。研究结果为采用纳滤技术生产新型酸奶产品提供参考。     

酶解膜分离两步分离乳清中β-乳球蛋白的研究(简报)

为研究乳清中β-乳球蛋白环保、温和、高效的分离工艺,该文对采用蛋白酶选择性水解然后超滤分离乳清水解液中的β-乳球蛋白进行研究。试验对乳清水解物进行十二烷基硫酸钠－聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳（SDS-PAGE）分析,比较了胃蛋白酶、胰蛋白酶、木瓜蛋白酶和中性蛋白酶的选择性,并分别采用分子截留量10000的聚砜膜(PS-10)和聚醚膜(PES-10)对胃蛋白酶解液进行超滤处理。结果显示,β-乳球蛋白对胃蛋白酶耐受性较好,α-乳白蛋白对木瓜蛋白酶抗性较佳,但二者均对中性蛋白酶较敏感。较优的水解分离条件如下：乳清蛋白质量浓度8%, 胃蛋白酶添加量为乳蛋白质量的0.3%,pH值2.1,温度37℃,水解2 h,α-乳白蛋白近似完全水解而β-乳球蛋白几乎不被降解。水解液用PS-10膜超滤分离,β-乳球蛋白的纯度和产率达到了较高,分别为94.6%,75.6%。因此,采用选择性酶解处理乳清然后超滤分离β-乳球蛋白是可行的。     

咸淡水分配比例对盐碱土壤水分入渗特征与脱盐效果的影响

以黄河三角洲重度盐碱化土壤为研究土样,在室内对其进行垂直一维积水入渗试验,研究5种咸淡水分配比例下累积入渗量、湿润锋深度和入渗率随时间的变化规律及灌溉后土壤脱盐深度、脱盐率。结果表明:(1)首轮微咸水入渗结束后,第二轮淡水灌溉的过程中,在同一时间,与全部微咸水灌溉相比,累积入渗量、湿润峰深度和入渗率均产生了明显的下降,并且淡水灌水量越多,下降的幅度越大,但其仍显著大于全部淡水灌溉;(2)累积入渗量与湿润锋深度呈良好的线性关系,回归方程的决定系数R2均大于0.99;与Green-Ampt模型和Philip模型相比,Kostiakov公式更适于描述入渗率与时间的关系;(3)咸淡水分配比例对土壤脱盐深度影响较小,但对脱盐深度内的脱盐率影响显著,在一定深度范围内,咸、淡水先后灌溉下土壤脱盐率远远大于全部微咸水灌溉,与全部淡水灌溉差异较小,但随着土层深度的继续增加,其土壤脱盐率明显小于全部淡水灌溉,与全部微咸水灌溉基本一致。     

酶解膜分离两步分离乳清中β-乳球蛋白的研究

为研究乳清中β-乳球蛋白环保、温和、高效的分离工艺,该文对采用蛋白酶选择性水解然后超滤分离乳清水解液中的β-乳球蛋白进行研究.试验对乳清水解物进行十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)分析,比较了胃蛋白酶、胰蛋白酶、木瓜蛋白酶和中性蛋白酶的选择性,并分别采用分子截留量10000的聚砜膜(PS-10)和聚醚膜(PES-10)对胃蛋白酶解液进行超滤处理.结果显示,β-乳球蛋白对胃蛋白酶耐受性较好,α-乳白蛋白对木瓜蛋白酶抗性较佳,但二者均对中性蛋白酶较敏感.较优的水解分离条件如下:乳清蛋白质量浓度8%,胃蛋白酶添加量为乳蛋白质量的0.3%,pH值2.1,温度37℃,水解2h,α-乳白蛋白近似完全水解而β-乳球蛋白几乎不被降解.水解液用PS-10膜超滤分离,β-乳球蛋白的纯度和产率达到了较高,分别为94.6%,75.6%.因此,采用选择性酶解处理乳清然后超滤分离β-乳球蛋白是可行的.     

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.