%0 Journal Article
%T Influence of forest fires on insect diversity: a case study in Apulia
%A Elia M
%A Lafortezza R
%A Tarasco E
%A Colangelo G
%J Forest@
%D 2011
%I Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology (SISEF)
%R 10.3832/efor0648-008
%X In this paper we analyze the relationship between forest fires and insect diversity in the Mediterranean environment. Using ¡°distance from the ignition point¡± as explanatory variable, we developed a number of regression models predicting insect abundance and family richness, as well as some of the most common measures of biodiversity (e.g., Shannon index, Simpson index, Margalef index). We report a case study in a forest area (Bosco ¡°Il Quarto¡± - 600 ha) located in the National Park of Alta Murgia, Apulia Region (southern Italy). Results show a significant influence of forest fire on insect abundance and family richness and a positive linear relationship between biodiversity and distance from the point of ignition for Coleoptera. Simpson¡¯s index, in particular, appears the most suitable indicator for measuring the effects of fires on insect biodiversity in the short term.
%K Wildfires
%K Insect biodiversity
%K Alta Murgia National Park
%U http://www.sisef.it/forest@/show.php?id=648&lang=en