Arthropod recolonization after wildfire (Leuk VS)

Background

After a large wild fire in a coniferous forest above Leuk (VS) nothing remained but charred stems and a thick layer of ash. As a part of a large project on the recolonization of this area by plants and animals, we investigate the succession of arthropods at regular intervals.

Method

At three altitudinal levels (1200, 1450, 1700 m a.s.l.) horizontal transects were established consisting of 6 trap sites each: 2 in the center of the fire area, 2 at the margins of the area, 2 in the adjacent intact forests. At each site a combi-trap and a barber trap were installed. During each sampling year (see below), the traps are operated from May to September and serviced weekly. The catches are sorted to taxonomic groups and identified by specialist.

Schedule

The sampling schedule complies with the sampling plan from the windthrow project. Until now, the following years were sampled: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2013.

Publications

Wohlgemuth, T., Duelli, P., Ginzler, C., Gödickemeier, I., Hadorn, S., Hagedorn, F., Küttel, P., Lüscher, P., Moretti, M., Schneiter, G., Sciacca, S., Wermelinger, B., 2005: Ökologische Resilienz nach Feuer: Die Waldbrandfläche Leuk als Modellfall. Schweiz. Z. Forstwes. 156: 345-352.

Wohlgemuth, T., Brigger, A., Gerold, P., Laranjeiro, L., Moretti, M., Moser, B., Rebetez, M., Schmatz, D., Schneiter, G., Sciacca, S., Sierro, A., Weibel, P., Zumbrunnen, T. & Conedera, M., 2010: Leben mit Waldbrand. Merkbl. Prax. WSL, 46, 16.
Wohlgemuth, T., Brigger, A., Gerold, P., Laranjeiro, L., Moretti, M., Moser, B., Rebetez, M., Schmatz, D., Schneiter, G., Sciacca, S., Sierro, A., Weibel, P., Zumbrunnen, T. & Conedera, M., 2010: Vivre avec les incendies de forêt. Not. prat. 46: 16 p.
Moretti M., De Cáceres M., Pradella C., Obrist M.K., Wermelinger B., Legendre P., Duelli P., 2010: Fire-induced taxonomic and functional changes in saproxylic beetle communities in fire sensitive regions. Ecography 33: 760-771
Pradella C., Wermelinger B., Obrist M.K., Duelli P., Moretti M., 2010: On the occurrence of five pyrophilous beetle species in the Swiss Central Alps (Leuk, Canton Valais). Mitt. Schweiz. Entomol. Ges. 83: 187-197.