The combined role of plant cover and fire occurrence on soil properties reveals response to wildfire in the Mediterranean basin

Climate change has strongly increased the fire frequency in Mediterranean forests causing changes soil bacterial, fungal and microarthropod communities. Fire impacts on properties depend vegetation covers. In this framework, aim of research was to evaluate effects communities community soils under trees shrubs a area. Surface cores were sampled unburnt burnt (three years since occurrence) patches Vesuvius National Park (Quercus ilex L. Pinus nigra L.) (Ginesta sp., Myrtus communis L., Laurus nobilis L.). Samples analyzed for abiotic (pH, water content concentrations C, N, Corg, P, NO2−, NH4+ Pavail) biotic (bacterial biomasses, density, taxa richness, diversity, evenness QBS-ar microarthropods) properties. Results showed that, three fire, recovered shrub stands but not yet tree stands. stimulated development bacteria only stands; no observed both amount richness microarthropods values pre-fire conditions conclusion, investigated area, differently impacted covers, making more similar with consequence reduce differences between