Post-Fire Arthropod Assemblages in Mediterranean Forest Soils in Israel

Abstract

The presence of soil micro- and macroarthropod species was surveyed after severe fire in a mixed forest dominated by Aleppo pine on Mt. Carmel, Israel. Arthropods were sampled, and separated into 19 taxa (mainly orders or classes). The effects of 2nd-5th post-fire years, seasons, habitats (burned and unburned) and tree species (pine or oaks) on the relative abundance of soil arthropods were analyzed by linear redundancy analysis. Arthropod distribution along the first axis of the analysis was non-random, so all these factors influenced arthropod community composition. Arthropod composition in the 2nd and 3rd postfire years was different from later years, demonstrating outbreaks of pioneers. After five post-fire years arthropod populations were not completely recovered. Significant seasonal differences in population size were detected, indicating summer, and to lesser extent also winter, as unfavorable periods in that region, as was well demonstrated with Collembola. The resilience of arthropods under burned oaks differed from the arthropods sampled under burned pines. Seven taxa were highly correlated to the unburned zone and included the main microarthropod groups (Collembola, Protura, Acari, and Pauropoda) and Coleoptera, Thysanoptera and Chilopoda. Only two orders showed a distinct association with-the burned zone: Psocoptera and Homoptera; the latter was represented almost solely by specimens of a pioneer species, Rhizoicus sp. (Pseudococcidae).