Post-fire transformation of microbial communities and invertebrate complexes in the pine forest soils, Central Siberia

Abstract

We studied post-fire transformations in functional characteristics of soil microbial communities and invertebrate complexes in the central-taiga pine forests of Central Siberia. The study revealed that fires of any severity reduce the density and diversity of soil invertebrates and adversely affect the structure and functioning of the sandy podzol microbial complexes. Post-fire recovery of the density and structure of soil invertebrate complexes and the functioning of sandy podzol microbial communities depend on fire duration and severity, as well as dynamics of hydrothermal and trophic properties of the pine forest soils.