Effects of Cattle Grazing and Wildfire on Soil-Dwelling Nematodes of the Shrub-Steppe Ecosystem

A comparison was made between nematode density and biomass values in grazed, ungrazed, and burned areas within a shrub-steppe community located on the Arid Lands Ecology Reserve in south-central Washington. Highest total population biomass values on grazed, ungrazed, and burned areas were 405, 502, and 400 mg/m², respectively. There were not consistent differences in density or biomass values between treatments, resulting in the conclusion that short-term effects associated with cattle grazing and burning had little impact on soil-dwelling nematodes.