Combinative effects of thinning and prescribed burning on fuel reduction and soil arthropods: A case study in a Mediterranean pine forest.

ABSTRACT

Wildfire pressure involves today to implement silvicultural practices that provide a good compromise between reducing fire risk and maintaining ecological functioning. Thinning reduces tree density and low branches, but results in the deposition of a considerable biomass of woody debris on the ground (up to 4800 g m2 in this study). They can be eliminated by prescribed burning, but this raises questions about the fire intensity that can be generated and the impact on soil fauna. We undertook the monitoring of a thinning and prescribed burning operation, separated and combined, in November 2020, in a Pinus laricio stand prone to fire risk, located in Bavella, Corsica. Fuel load was determined, and temperature measurements in the soil were performed using K-type thermocouples. Soil arthropod populations were monitored using pitfall traps, in particular Collembola, Acari, Aranae, and Coleoptera. The combination of thinning and burning resulted in a fire intensity of 75.8 versus 8.4 kW m-1 for burning alone. Maximum temperature rise measured at -2 cm below the surface was less than 5°C for both treatments. The combination of thinning and burning did not result in higher fire intensity at ground level than burning alone, and the soil showed high insulation capacity. Most of the woody debris that burned was small-diameter, and large-diameter debris remained unconsumed. This burning, performed during a period of low biological activity, had no effect on soil arthropods, and the presence of large debris may have provided refuge areas. Collembola group was the faster to recover, and were followed by cohorts of predators in summer, especially Acari. Our results suggest that a combination of burning and thinning in autumn may be beneficial for fire prevention. However, the decomposition of woody debris in relation to fire risk, and the occurrence of pests after these treatments need to be monitored.