Effects of fire on soil respiration, ATP content and enzyme activities in Mediterranean maquis

Abstract

Abstract Question: Do low or high intensity fires affect micro-organism activity in the upper soil layer of Mediterranean maquis? Location: 600 m from the sea in the Nature Reserve of Castel Volturno (Campania, southern Italy, 40°57′ N; 13°55′ E). Methods: Soil respiration was measured in situ on intact soil; enzyme activity (cellulase, xylanase, invertase, trehalase and protease) and ATP content were measured on soil samples collected under three species of maquis vegetation: Phillyrea angustifolia L., Myrtus communis L. and Cistus incanus L. Results: Soil microbial respiration showed no significant differences in CO2 flux in treated and untreated plots, but the ATP content in the soil under C. incanus and M. communis was lower in the treated plots for most of the study period. In the soil under Ph. angustifolia, ATP content was low only for one week after fire. The reduction was more marked in the samples from ‘high fire intensity’ than from ‘low fire intensity’ plots. Soil respiration and ATP content e...