Team Members:

Rachel Adams, Mikaela Clemons,

Van Nguyen and Brytani White

Researching Wildfire Temperature Effects

on Nitrifying Bacteria:Proposal Grant

Testable QuestionHow does the temperature of a wildfire affect the amount of bacteria used by the nitrogen cycle in soil and in the months following the incident?

Soil Imperative functions to

environment, wildlife, and humans Biodiversity and habitat Physical stability and

support of plants Nutrient Cycling

Justification for Controlled Variable

Importance

Nitrogen CycleInvolvement of

bacteriaExplanation and

Main FunctionBacteria

Transforms nitrogen into usable forms for plants

NitrificationNitrosomonas Nitrosomonas Nitrobacter

Justification for Dependent Variable

Importance

TemperatureAverage surface fire

temperature: 1473oFUnder extreme conditions

(like hot areas): 2192oF

Bacteria SurvivalOptimum growth of

nitrifying bacteria: 77-86°F

Nitrifying bacteria will die at 120° F

Justification for Independent Variable

Importance

HypothesisIf the temperature of a wildfire exceeds the optimal cultivating range of the bacteria, then the bacteria will die and stall the nitrogen cycle for a period of time because while most cannot survive the outstanding heat of certain wildfires, it will also take time for the limited amount of bacteria to reproduce to a healthy quantity.

Proposed Investigation1. Multiple samples of soil will be

taken from areas vulnerable to wildfires that have not experienced a fire in at least 7-10 years

Example area: Yellowstone National Park – last wildfire: 1988

2. Measure amount of bacteria Adding sugar or an energy source To increase organism activity and

release Carbon Dioxide (Used to determine the mass of the micro-

organisms in the soil)

Allow incubation of bacteria, measure Carbon Dioxide release

Laboratory respirometer

Initial measurements of the bacteria will be documented

3. A controlled, prescribed fire with a common wildfire temperature of wildfire will take place in the lab setting with samples

4. After “wildfire” has died out, samples will have to be taken once again to measure and compare the final amount of bacteria involved in the nitrogen cycle to the initial amount of bacteria.

5. Samples will be kept under close monitoring for following months

Will continue to measure amount of bacteria

Soil sample will be housed in condition similar to area it was taken from

Gives estimation to how long it will take for bacteria to reproduce to its previous amount before the “wildfire”

Data Collection

Months following affecting of bacteria

Sample 1Carbon dioxide released (ml/minute)

Sample 2Carbon dioxide released (ml/minute)

Sample 3Carbon dioxide released (ml/minute)

1

2

3

etc

Area 1: Yellowstone National Park

Sample Temperature (of soil)

Carbon dioxide released unaffected by wildfire (ml/minute)

Hottest Temperature of Mock Wildfire

Hottest Temperature of Surface Soil

Carbon dioxide released immediately after affected by mock wildfire (ml/minute)

Sample 1          Sample 2          Sample 3          etc          

By understanding the extent of damage done by temperature in a wildfire on the nitrogen

cycle of soil and its long term consequences, humans can create more efficient solutions

on how to recreate destroyed bacteria of the soil or even nurse it back to health in faster

ways.

Purpose

Works CitedBonsor, Kevin. (29 May 2001). "How Wildfires Work" HowStuffWorks.com. Retrieved 21

February 2014, from How Stuff Works website: http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/ wildfire.htm  DeBano, L. F. (1990, April 10). The Effect of Fire on Soil Properties. Retrieved February 21,

2014, from SoLo website: http://forest.moscowfsl.wsu.edu/smp/solo/documents/ GTRs/INT_280/DeBano_INT-280.php Effects of Fire on Forest Soil. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2014, from Northern Rockies Fire website:

http://www.northernrockiesfire.org/effects/soils.htm#hlist1

Hoorman, J. J., & Islam, R. (2010). Understanding soil microbes and nutrient recycling [PDF]. Retrieved from http://ohioline.osu.edu/sag-fact/pdf/0016.pdf Measuring and Identifying Soil Organisms. (2004). Retrieved February 21, 2014, from University of Western Australia

website: http://www.soilhealth.see.uwa.edu.au/components/measuring Nitrifying Bacteria Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.bioconlabs.com/

nitribactfacts.html Nitrogen cycle [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/cpelfrey/nitrogen-

cycle Nitrogen cycle [Photograph]. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.3reef.com/forums/water-chemistry/sta-bility-helps-cycle-f aster-49814.html#.Ux-ciPldUxE

NRCS National Soil Survey Center et al. (2011, September 19). Soil Functions: Services Provided by Soil Resources. Retrieved February 21, 2014, from Soil Quality for

Environmental Health website: http://www.soilquality.org/functions.html

Thank You For Your Time