复合酶解结合超高压技术制备香蕉汁的工艺优化

利用复合酶解结合超高压技术制备香蕉汁,以提高香蕉的出汁率和品质。首先优化得到了出汁率的最佳酶解条件,而后进一步考察了不同超高压处理对香蕉汁色泽、褐变度和菌落总数等指标的影响;通过最佳酶解工艺制汁和450MPa,10min超高压处理香蕉汁后,采用固相微萃取与气相色谱质谱仪(gas chromatography-mass spectrometer)联用检测,考察其香气成分的变化。研究结果表明:适于实际生产的酶解工艺为:酶添加量为0.025%,酶解时间为1.5h,酶解温度为35℃,pH值为4.0,在此工艺条件下香蕉出汁率为81.6%;超高压处理可以抑制香蕉汁的褐变,且对香蕉汁色泽具有很好的保护作用,其中450MPa压力处理效果最好;超高压的杀菌效果随压力的增加而增强,经450MPa处理后,细菌死亡率达到90.25%,菌落总数可降至10cfu/mL以下;超高压处理使香蕉汁中醛类物质相对含量下降,烯类物质相对含量提高,但对整体香气组分的质量分数影响不大。为香蕉的深加工利用提供了新的方法。     

超高压处理对鲜榨橙汁中主要香气成分的影响

为了了解超高压处理对鲜橙汁香气的影响,分析超高压处理后橙汁香气变化的原因。采用固相微萃取（Solid Phase Microextraction,SPME）方法对不同压力（100～500 MPa）超高压处理的鲜榨橙汁中的香气成分进行富集,并经气相色谱-质谱联用仪（Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry,GC-MS）检测分析,橙汁中的主要香气成分有：3种烯（柠檬烯、月桂烯、α-蒎烯）;2种醇（芳樟醇、α-松油醇）;3种醛（柠檬醛、辛醛、癸醛）;1种酮（香芹酮）;2种酯（丁酸乙酯、3-OH-己酸乙酯）,它们是构成橙汁的主要特征致香成分。通过定量检测分析发现：超高压处理对橙汁中的柠檬烯成分影响很显著,经500 MPa的压力处理15 min后其含量下降了75%,而月桂烯和α-蒎烯受高压影响较小;α-松油醇、香芹酮含量经高压处理后迅速增加;醛类特征香气成分基本不受高压影响;酯类成分在高压下会发生变化,但总体变化不显著。超高压处理橙汁使其中柠檬烯在高压下发生水合、氧化反应分别生成α-松油醇和香芹酮。超高压处理橙汁一般压力要大于300 MPa,而该文研究发现500 MPa处理会造成较多的香气损失,故橙汁超高压处理时的压力最好选择 400 MPa左右。     

超高压条件下烟叶含水率变化对香味成分的影响

为探讨超高压条件下烟叶含水率对香味成分的影响，将烟叶在500 MPa压力、25℃、烟叶含水率为12%～28%条件下处理20 min后，利用同时蒸馏萃取和毛细管气相色谱法测定烟叶香味成分的变化，并进行了感官质量评价。结果表明：烟叶香味物质总量在烟叶含水率为24%时达到最大值，然后开始下降；酮类物质的变化与香味物质总量的变化趋势相似；而β-苯乙醇、苯甲醇、丁香酚和芳樟醇等香味成分随着含水率的增加而持续增加。感官评价表明：烟叶含水率为24%时品质亦最佳。超高压处理可以明显改善烟叶的内在品质，对烟叶陈化加工具有潜     

热处理对乳熟期玉米汁挥发性风味成分的影响

为明确热处理对玉米汁加工过程中风味变化的影响,本文选用乳熟期的甜玉米及糯玉米进行制汁,对生鲜玉米汁以及烫漂、常压沸水、高压蒸汽热处理后的样品采用SPME-GC-MS,进行挥发性成分测定。结果表明:两种生鲜玉米汁的挥发性成分均以直链醛醇类物质为主,经烫漂处理后制汁,醛醇类物质分别由14种和15种减少为5种和0种,峰面积减少为生鲜玉米汁的48.7%与0.0%。对烫漂后加工得到的玉米汁样品再进行常压沸水处理和高压蒸汽处理。常压沸水处理的样品中挥发性成分的数量及含量较未加热的样品增加不明显。高压蒸汽热处理的两种样品中检测到的成分数量分别增加为加热前的2.6和2.8倍,总峰面积则分别增加为3.4与12.7倍。另外,虽然常压沸水处理的两个玉米汁中均检测到了玉米的特征香气成分二甲基硫醚,但高压蒸汽热处理的样品含量为前者的30倍与300倍。热处理引起的两种玉米汁挥发性成分的变化体现了二者对热处理的敏感程度不同,实际加工中应针对不同原料选择适宜的加热方法。本研究为玉米汁生产工艺的优化、风味品质的提高提供借鉴作用。     

锦橙汁辐照和巴氏灭菌处理后相关品质的分析

为探讨辐照和巴氏杀菌对橙汁品质的影响,对锦橙汁分别进行1.4、2.8、5.6kGy3种不同剂量辐照及巴氏灭菌处理,使用固相微萃取-气质联用技术对挥发性成分进行分析,测定橙汁色度、pH值和Vc含量,并对橙汁香气进行感官评定。在鲜橙汁、巴氏灭菌汁和3种辐照样品中分别检测到了54、47、57、55和53种成分,2.8kGy剂量辐照处理后橙汁挥发性成分总峰面积最高,β-月桂烯、柠檬烯和γ-松油烯等橙汁特征香气物质经辐照后保持率高于巴氏灭菌。各种处理后Vc含量均有所下降,橙汁橙香均减弱。1.4kGy辐照后的橙汁感官评价结果最好,因此可以对橙汁进行低剂量辐照灭菌。     

电子鼻检测不同品种和加工类型的柑橘汁

为了探索一种通过气味快速区别橙汁和橘汁以及在线监测橙汁加工品质的方法,应用电子鼻对不同品种的橙汁和橘汁的香气进行区分,研究酸橙汁加工过程中各工艺操作对香气成分的影响,并对不同加工类型的酸橙汁进行区分。通过对所获得的数据进行主成分分析及偏最小二乘回归分析,结果显示,不同品种的橙汁和橘汁的香气品质存在差异, 橙汁经过一系列加工工艺后香气发生了明显变化,浓缩还原汁的香气品质要逊于非浓缩橙汁（NFC橙汁）,28%、38%、48%和63.5% 4种不同可溶性固形物质量分数的还原汁在电子鼻传感器上的信号经拟合后有良好的线性关系,以55%还原汁为盲样,判别结果为57.95%,误差为5%。使用电子鼻可以很好的区分不同品种、不同加工类型的柑橘汁,还可以应用于橙汁加工过程中的品质控制。     

杀菌方式对即食胡萝卜片挥发性风味物质的影响

为研究不同杀菌方式对即食胡萝卜片挥发性风味物质的影响,运用固相微萃取和气相色谱-质谱联用技术,分别对新鲜胡萝卜片和经巴氏杀菌、超高压杀菌、热辅助超高压杀菌处理的即食胡萝卜片及其贮藏期间(4℃,60 d)的挥发性组分进行对比分析。试验结果表明:新鲜胡萝卜片的主要芳香成分为萜烯类物质。与未杀菌组相比,经不同杀菌处理后,即食胡萝卜片的萜烯类物质含量均有所降低,其中巴氏杀菌组降低的最多。在贮藏前期(20~30 d),超高压处理即食胡萝卜片的萜烯类物质的含量最高,超高压杀菌在短期内较好地保持了胡萝卜特有的香气,即食胡萝卜片品质较好;其次是热辅助压力杀菌组,热辅助压力杀菌组即食胡萝卜片的β-蒎烯、β-石竹烯的含量较其他处理组较高,较好地保持了胡萝卜的松树树脂香气以及辛香气味;而巴氏杀菌组即食胡萝卜片的萜烯类物质含量最低,即食胡萝卜片的品质相对较差。研究结果可为新型杀菌技术在即食产品领域的应用提供参考。     

套袋对“寒富”苹果果实香气成分的影响

套袋是我国苹果生产的一项关键技术,而目前有关套袋技术的研究主要集中于果实微域环境、果皮结构、果皮抗逆能力、果实品质等方面, 很少考虑果袋对果实内质的影响。果实香气是果实内质的主要组成部分, 对果实的风味起重要作用, 但是关于果袋材质对果实风味的影响鲜见报道。研究不同材质果袋对苹果果实香气的影响, 可为有效调控果实香气、提高果实品质提供依据, 为更科学合理地选择果袋、完善套袋技术措施、研发新型果袋提供参考。本研究采用静态顶空和气相色谱/质谱联用技术, 研究了套用不同材质果袋(塑膜袋、双层纸袋、反光膜袋)对“寒富”苹果果实香气成分的影响。结果表明: 套袋降低了“寒富”苹果果实中芳香物质的总含量, 但不同材质果袋影响程度不同, 未套袋对照果实芳香物质总含量为0.792 μg·g^-1, 套塑膜袋果实芳香物质总含量略低于对照, 套双层纸袋果实芳香物质总含量为对照的59.97%, 套反光膜袋果实芳香物质总含量为对照的79.67%; 套袋提高了果实中酯类物质的总含量, 降低了醇类、醛类物质的总含量; “寒富”苹果果实特征香气成分为2-甲基丁酸乙酯、丁酸乙酯、2-甲基丁酸己酯、己酸乙酯、己醛, 属于“酯香型”; 2-甲基丁酸乙酯为套塑膜袋和双层纸袋果实最重要的特征香气成分, 丁酸乙酯和2-甲基丁酸乙酯为套反光膜袋果实最重要的特征香气成分, 2-甲基丁酸乙酯和己醛为不套袋果实最重要的特征香气成分。果实套袋不利于重要香气成分(E)-2-己烯醛的生成, 这可能是导致套袋果实香味稍逊于不套袋果实的一个原因。     

硅酸钠处理对杏品质和风味物质的影响（英）

硅酸盐作为一种安全有效的物质,已被广泛用于果蔬等采后病害的控制,为了研究其处理对园艺产品品质的影响,该文以兰州“大接杏”（Armeniaca vulgaris Lam. cv. Lanzhou Dajie）为试验对象,在室温（22±2℃）下使用硅酸钠（10 mmol/L）化学诱抗处理,探讨硅酸盐对杏果实品质,特别是挥发性风味物质的影响。结果表明,硅酸钠处理可延缓果实硬度的下降和腐烂率的升高,在贮藏结束后,其分别是对照组的1.95倍和58%。并能够减少贮藏过程中可滴定酸、可溶性固形物及Vc含量的下降,但对果实总糖含量的影响不显著。采用固相微萃取（SPME）结合气相色谱质谱联用（GC-MS）的方法分离鉴定了“大接杏”果实的香气成分,共分离鉴定出超过100多种挥发性成分。硅酸钠处理样挥发性物质的释放总量低于对照。同时,处理后的杏果还表现出醛类物质、萜类物质和β-紫罗兰酮的释放增大和酯类物质的释放减少的现象。与对照相比,该处理能够更好地保持杏果实良好的品质,是一种可行的杏果保鲜处理方法。     

金枪鱼油冬化前后脂肪酸含量和主体风味的解析

为了研究金枪鱼油在冬化前和冬化后不同温度条件下,脂肪酸含量和主体风味成分的变化,利用气质联用仪测定金枪鱼鱼油中的脂肪酸含量;电子鼻检测金枪鱼鱼油冬化前后不同温度下的挥发性物质的变化趋势,并利用顶空固相微萃取与气质联用仪(HS-SPME-GC-MS)对该过程中的挥发性风味成分进行定性和定量分析;结合感觉阈值确定金枪鱼鱼油的主体风味成分。结果表明,鱼油中脂肪酸组成范围为C14~C22,在冬化过程中,饱和脂肪酸随着温度的降低呈下降趋势,相对含量从冬化前的25.57%降到冬化后的23.08%;不饱和脂肪酸的含量逐渐上升,其中,单不饱和脂肪酸的相对含量从冬化前的27.92%提高到冬化后的29.09%;多不饱和脂肪酸的相对含量从冬化前的29.20%提高到冬化后的32.20%。电子鼻检测发现,冬化前后鱼油挥发性物质差异显著。冬化前和冬化后,对金枪鱼油风味有重要贡献的挥发性物质的种类和含量无明显变化,主体风味成分主要有1-辛烯-3-醇、反-2-辛烯醛、辛醛、己醛、庚醛、2-十一酮、2-戊基呋喃等,这些物质赋予了鱼油鱼腥、油脂气息、泥土味、脂肪香味、青草味、蜡香、蘑菇香、蔬菜香味等。本研究结果对今后改善金枪鱼油加工工艺和不良风味等方面具有理论指导意义。     

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.