THINGS TO RESEARCH:
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temperature of wildfires
o importance
o data tables
o the effects (short and long)
o how varied it can be (min and max fire temp)
o effects on bacteria
bacteria of N -cycle
o importance
o types of bacteria and their role
N-cycle
o importance in the real world
Soil
o layers of soil'
o why it's important
o functions
o background info
SITES WITH STATISTICS
http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/range/publications/documents/fire2.htm
http://databasin.org/maps/new#datasets=41d3c8b8694342b482357480e34ad42b
http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_gtr042_4.pdf
http://www.talltimbers.org/images/fireecology/Wildfire-PF-ClimateChange6-07.pdf
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/08/130827-wildfires-yosemite-fire-firefightersvegetation-hotshots-california-drought/
http://www.climatechoices.org/impacts_wildfires/
http://www.energy.ca.gov/2005publications/CEC-500-2005-192/CEC-500-2005-192-SF.PDF
http://headwaterseconomics.org/wildfire/temperatures-cost-safety
http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/global-warming-andwildfire.html
http://eco.ib.usp.br/lepac/conservacao/Artigos/Pivello_et_al_2010.pdf
http://landresources.montana.edu/Department/PDF/2008_Capstone.pdf
http://abe.ufl.edu/carpena/files/pdf/research/reports/chung%20nguyen_dissertation.pdf
http://www.nps.gov/yell/naturescience/wildlandfire.htm
Research:
nitorsomonas- its major source of energy and reducing power is from the oxidation of ammonia to
nitrate
There’s gas and water in soil that occupy the gaps between minerals. They constantly shift states
between liquid and gas to maintain equilibrium
Soil particle sizes are split up into three sizes (from largest to smallest): sand, silt, and clay
Made of plant nutrients, potassium, calcium, and magnesium
www.nerrs.noaa.gov/doc/siteprofile/acebasin/html/envicond/soil/slform.htm
Yoooooo, here are some tables we can use. Feel free to
add or remove from this list.
Neary, D. G., Ryan, K. C., & DeBano, L. F. (2005, September). Wildland fire in ecoysystems:
Effects
of fire on soil and water [PDF]. Retrieved from
http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_gtr042_4.pdf
Humans are about 3% nitrogen which is used to make amino acids and proteins
Nitrogen Cycle
1. Nitrogen Fixation
a. Atmospheric N2 is changed to ammonia (NH3) by nitrogen fixing
bacteria in roots
2. Nitrification
a. ammonia (NH3) to ammonium (NH4) by adding water to Nitrite
(NO2) to Nitrate (NO3)
b. performed by bacteria
3. Assimilation
a. nitrogen taken into roots and become part of the food chain
i. In plants, animals eat plants
ii. NO3 (nitrate) changed back into organic nitrogen
4. Ammonification
a. when plants and animals decomposed Organic nitrogen in them is
changed back into ammonia and ammonium to be recycled
5. Denitrification
a. denitrifying bacteria return Nitrates to Atmospheric nitrogen (N2)
slideshare.net
Picture above is of Nitrification (www.fbas.co.uk/nitrogen%20cycle.jpeg)
Lethal Temps for Nitrosomonas (shown above) involved in nitrification
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140 degrees C in dry soil
75 C in wet soil
Lethal temps for microorganisms in general
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greater than 50 C - microorganisms begin to die
(couldn't find specific temp for Nitrobacter)
Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter are used to convert Ammonia (from N2) in to a
form that is more usable for plants
Temperature (http://www.bioconlabs.com/nitribactfacts.html)
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The temperature for optimum growth of nitrifying bacteria is between 7786° F (25-30°C).
Growth rate is decreased by 50% at 64° F (18° C).
Growth rate is decreased by 75% at 46-50° F.
No activity will occur at 39° F (4° C)
Nitrifying bacteria will die at 32° F (0° C).
Nitrifying bacteria will die at 120° F (49° C)
Nitrobacter is less tolerant of low temperatures than Nitrosomonas. In cold
water systems, care must be taken to monitor the accumulation of nitrites.
Measuring Mircoorganisms
http://ohioline.osu.edu/sag-fact/pdf/0016.pdf - there is a table of average biomass
that it wouldn't let me copy
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Soil respiration reflects amount of microorganisms in soil
use metabolic quotient also called specific respiratory rate which is defined
as the microbial respiration rate per unit microbial biomass
o determined by substrate induced respiration
(http://www.neri.dk/1_viden/2_Publikationer/3_fagrapporter/rapporter
/FR388.pdf)
Microbial Biomass (http://soilquality.org.au/factsheets/category/biologicalindicators)
o Microbial biomass is an important indicator of soil health because it is
closely related to nutrient release from crop residues. The microbial
biomass consists mostly of bacteria and fungi, which decompose crop
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residues and organic matter in soil. This process releases nutrients,
such as nitrogen (N), into the soil for plant uptake. About half the
microbial biomass is located in the surface 10 cm of soil and most of
the nutrient release also occurs here.
Microbial Biomass - Queensland
o The soil microbial biomass consists mostly of bacteria and fungi,
which decompose crop residues and organic matter in soil. The
microbial biomass typically makes up less than 5 % of total soil
organic matter, but it plays a very large role in a number of key soil
functions, including nutrient release, the maintenance of good soil
structure and the suppression of plant pathogens. Changes to the
microbial biomass can also be an early indicator of changes in total
soil organic carbon. Unlike total organic carbon, microbial biomass
carbon responds quickly to management changes, and can often be
measured before changes in total organic carbon are detected.
file:///C:/Users/lightning/Downloads/Blagodatsky_Heinemeyer_Richter_00_
BFS%20(1).pdf- pg 2-5 gives method on how to measure
Let me know if u have any questions- Brytani
Method
In order to conduct this investigation, Samples will be collected from places
around the US that have not experienced a fire in at least 10 years (feel free to
revise) to eliminate the affects of that fire. For example, samples from
Yellowstone National Park will be taken as it has not experienced a fire since
1988, leaving time for the effects of the fire to no long be at play. To measure
microorganisms, two samples of soil will be taken. One untreated and one
fumigated to kill off organisms. Sugar or an energy sources is added to the
untreated sample to increase organism activity. Comparing the Carbon Dioxide
released can be used to determine the mass of the organisms in the soil. Carbon
Dioxide is measured through a laboratory respirometer which measures carbon
dioxide release of samples. (http://www.bioscienceinc.com/product/bi-2000laboratory-respirometer/) for examples the BI2000 Respirometer by bioscience
incorporated. (pictures are on the link before this sentence). After finding the
carbon dioxide levels released, using the metabolic quotient, the estimate of
microorganisms biomass can be found. The majority of the microorganisms are
fungi and bacteria. Although this does not specifically give the amount of bacteria
that are involved in the Nitrogen cycle, it does provide an estimate.