Short-Interval, Severe Wildfires Alter Saproxylic Beetle Diversity in Andean Araucaria Forests in Northwest Chilean Patagonia

The occurrence of short-interval, severe wildfires are increasing drastically at a global scale, and appear as novel phenomenon in areas where fire historically returns large time lapses. In forest ecosystems, these events induce drastic changes population dynamics, which could dramatically impact species diversity. Here, we studied the effect on diversity recent (SISF), occurred rapid succession summers 2002 2015 Chilean Northern Patagonian Araucaria–Nothofagus forests. We analyzed deadwood-dependent (i.e., saproxylic) fire-sensitive beetles biological indicators across four conditions: 2002-burned areas, 2015-burned SISF burned again 2015), unburned areas. Saproxylic were collected using window traps 2017 to 2019 summer seasons. To investigate mechanisms underpinning fire-related disturbance assemblage, evaluated effects post-fire habitat quality (e.g., dead wood decomposition) quantity volume tree density) abundances richness entire assemblage also multiple trophic groups. Compared with condition, reduced richness, evenness, Shannon’s altered composition saproxylic beetle assemblages. between-condition variation was accounted for by replacement (turnover) between but both extinction (nestedness) Dead decomposition density variables strongest abundance most These results suggest that SISF, through degraded (dead (arboreal density), have detrimental impacts dynamics Therefore, loss is central mechanism biodiversity ecosystems.