Post-fire fauna of carabid beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in forests of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve (Russia)

Abstract

Wildfires are among the basic ecological factors that change habitats and initiate the succession of new forest communities. Burned areas are ephemeral habitats presenting a broad range of ecological niches that many insect species may exploit. In 2016, we studied the carabid fauna in burned pine forests of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve (European Russia). Sixty carabid beetles in total were collected in an unburned (control) area and on sites damaged by crown fire and surface fire. Carabids were more numerous and diverse in the burned areas, compared to the unburned forest, while the catch index was significantly higher in unburned area. This was due to the extremely high dynamic density of Carabus arcensis on the control site, while it was ten times lower in the burned area. The number of carabid species tended to increase in the sequence unburned forest-forest impacted by surface fire-forest impacted by crown fire. Expectedly, species compositions were more similar between firedamaged areas, while there was a higher difference between the unburned site and area damaged by crown fire. Concerning trophic group classification, all carabid beetles were distinguished in two groups, zoophagous species and myxophytophagous species. In both groups, the species number increases in the sequence from unburned areas to the forest impacted by crown fire. Finally, the dynamic density of some carabids (e.g. Poecilus lepidus, P. versicolor, Harpalus tardus, H. rufipes, H. rubripes, Cicindela sylvatica) largely increased after fire impact, while it decreased for the most other species. Our results suggest that burning of the forest stand may support some carabid species, i.e. larger forest fire increases species richness of beetle fauna. The highest dynamic density of the carabids is maintained by a few beetle species (Carabus arcensis, C. hortensis, Pterostichus oblongopunctatus).

Usage of Fermental Traps for the Study of the Species Diversity of Coleoptera

“…Due to the diversity of these ecosystems, they are home to a significant species diversity of insects [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. While many insect species thrive, some forest species are on the verge of extinction due to forest degradation, pollution, fragmentation, changes in tree composition, climate change, and other factors, such as fires, tree felling, and draining [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. The species diversity of Coleoptera forest ecosystems is very large, and knowledge about this biodiversity is constantly being updated through the use of a wide variety of studying methods [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ].…”

Post-fire insect fauna explored by crown fermental traps in forests of the European Russia

“…Maximal values are registered in July, and minimal values in February 45 . In the Mordovia State Nature Reserve, serious wildfires observed in 1842, 1899, 1932, 1972, 2010, and 2019 24 , 46 – 48 . In 2010, the wildfires were especially serious with approximately 38% of the total area of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve being affected.…”

“…In terms of wildfire impacts on the insect fauna most of the literature considers mainly the impact on soil-dwelling and terrestrial arthropods during a 10–15-year period after the wildfire 4 , 20 – 24 . Post-fire changes in both litter and soil depend considerably on the intensity and duration of the wildfire, as well as on other factors 25 – 27 .…”

Usage of Fermental Traps for Studying the Species Diversity of Coleoptera

“…Due to the diversity of these ecosystems, they are home to a significant species and diversity of insects [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. While many insect species thrive, some forest species are on the verge of extinction due to forest degradation, pollution, fragmentation, changes in tree composition, climate change, and other factors, such as fires, tree felling, and draining [9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16]. The species diversity of Coleoptera forest ecosystems is very large, and knowledge about this biodiversity is constantly being updated through the use of a wide variety of studying methods [17,18,19,20,21,22].…”