The complex impacts of fire on soil ecosystems: Insights from the 2021 Aspromonte National Park wildfire

Abstract

Fires have historically played a natural role in shaping ecosystems, contributing to biodiversity and ecological renewal. However, in the Anthropocene, the interplay of climate change and human activities has exacerbated fire frequency and intensity, with cascading impacts on soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience. This study highlights the complex effects of fire on soil ecosystems, particularly in Mediterranean environments, by analysing the aftermath of the 2021 wildfire in Aspromonte National Park. The results of this research reveal the multifaceted impact of fire on soil composition and biological activity. Burned areas exhibited altered microbial communities, characterized by a higher biomass of bacteria and actinomycetes but reduced fungal presence, aligning with findings that fungi are more sensitive to heat than other microorganisms, particularly under moist conditions. Changes in enzyme activity, such as decreased oxidoreductase and hydrolase activities but elevated catalase activity, suggest significant metabolic adjustments among surviving microbial strains. Additionally, increased potassium, magnesium, sulphates, and total phenols in burned areas point to shifts in nutrient dynamics driven by the combustion of organic matter. Fire also impacted microarthropod communities but the rapid recovery of microarthropod communities that has been recognized by numerous authors suggests that fire may not universally impair soil biodiversity in Mediterranean environments. The transition zone played a critical intermediate role, retaining a higher organic matter content than the unburned zone, suggesting its potential as a buffer or recovery zone in post-fire dynamics. Microarthropod communities, while initially affected, demonstrated resilience in line with previous research, indicating that Mediterranean soils might possess adaptive mechanisms to recover from low- to moderate-severity wildfires. Importantly, the incorporation of ashes and partially burned organic material in such fires may lead to enhanced soil fertility, fostering bacterial and actinomycetes proliferation and facilitating ecosystem recovery.

Keywords

Ecosystem resilience / Mediterranean environment / Wildfire / Soil biodiversity / Soil quality

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Funding

Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

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