Microarthropod responses to fire: vegetation cover modulates impacts on Collembola and Acari assemblages in Mediterranean area

• DOI: 10.1186/s42408-024-00332-5
• Publication Date: 2024-10-17T16:03:03Z
• Authors: Lucia Santorufo; Valeria Memoli; Monica Zizolfi; Giorgia Santini; Gabriella Di Natale; Marco Trifuoggi; Rossella Barile; Anna De Marco; Giulia Maisto
• Keywords: Vegetation Cover

Abstract Background In the Mediterranean region, fire is a recurring disturbance that impacts both surface and underground organisms. While effects on plants animals are well-studied, consequences for soil microarthropods often overlooked. This research addresses microarthropod responses to by comparing post-fire Collembola Acari assemblages in soils with different vegetation covers. Three years post-fire, were sampled within Vesuvius National Park (Southern Italy) from total of 24 sites, comprising 6 sites each under holm oak (HO), pine (P), black locust (BL), herbaceous (H) vegetation. Within cover, further categorized into three unburnt (NB) burnt (B) comprehensive analysis. extracted, identified at family suborder level, respectively analyzed density taxa richness. Results The results highlighted alone did not impact communities, but its varied according Microarthropod abundance declined P, increased BL. Furthermore, eu-edaphic organisms (Onychiuridae, Oribatida), typical stable environments, decreased locust. Conclusions Fire communities changed covers, highlighting importance considering type when managing landscapes. rapid recovery some covers suggests may universally impair biodiversity environments.