How do patch burnings affect ant communities and seed removal in a subtropical grassland?

Barbosa, Gabriel Gonçalves; Ferrando, Claire Pauline Röpke; Mendonça, Milton de Souza; Podgaiski, Luciana Regina

doi:10.1016/j.pecon.2022.07.002

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…We considered one-month post-re as the shock phase. During combustion, litter and almost all living plant matter are consumed by re, altering the microclimate and making the environment xeric through increased solar exposure and changes in evapotranspiration and water availability, with reduced soil activity (Verhoef et Barbosa et al 2022). The occurrence and abundance of ground-dwelling ants were measured on both sampling dates using ve pitfall-traps per plot (9 cm in diameter, 200 ml of 70% alcohol + detergent drops), for four days.…”

Section: Sampling Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Grassland Burning on Ants in the Shock Phase: Local Species Extinctions and Changes in Population Size

Barbosa

Podgaiski

2022

Preprint

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Fire is an important disturbance that alters processes and the structure of communities and populations of organisms in adapted ecosystems. The effects of fire on arthropods begin in the combustion phase and extend into the shock phase until the vegetation begins to regrow. We evaluated the effects of the shock phase on ant local species extinctions/disappearances, survival probability and activity in grasslands. Fourteen paired 10-m² plots were established in disturbance-excluded grasslands in southern Brazil. One plot of each pair was randomly chosen for burning with the other being considered a control, forming a block. The ant community in each plot was assessed before and one month after fire (BA:CI) using pitfall-traps and sweep nets. One month after the fire was considered the shock phase period, when there are considerable changes in abiotic conditions and habitat structure. A total of 52 species in 25 genera were recorded. Absolute and relative local species extinctions/disappearances did not differ between control and burned plots and species survival probability was not altered. Ant community abundance was higher in burned plots, as was the population abundance of some target species, with only one species having its activity decreased by fire. Our results show that the shock phase caused by the effects of fire does not alter extinction/disappearance nor survival of species and may even potentially favor species activity. Implications for insect conservation: The ecosystems we studied are adapted to disturbances such as fire, where there are species not only adapted to, but also dependent on this disturbance. Although small-scale burning may cause the xeric environment in the shock phase, our results show that this period does not influence the mortality and survival of ant species. Grassland conservation policies in Brazil should consider prescribed small-scale fires as a conservation tool.

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Section: Sampling Designmentioning

confidence: 99%