Effects of Restoration Burns on Macroinvertebrates in Southern Appalachian Pine-Oak Forests

Cover board arrays were used to measure the relative abundance of macroinvertebrates and terrestrial salamanders on prescribed burn and control sites in xeric southern Appalachians of northern Georgia and southeastern Tennessee pine-oak forests. Three microsite variables were measured at each cover board: cover board moisture level, temperature under the cover board, and soil moisture. Soil moisture was significantly higher on the burn sites than the controls after the prescribed fire. Two groups of macroinvertebrates, Homoptera and Hymenoptera, were more abundant on the burn sites than the control sites. Coleoptera and Stylommatophora were significantly more abundant in riparian and low slope positions than upland positions; whereas, the other macroinvertebrate groups were not significantly related to slope position. Thirteen salamanders were found during the four sampling periods. Overall, there was little evidence of negative post-fire impacts on macroinvertebrates or salamanders.