Low-intensity prescribed burning is commonly used to manage oak forests throughout the Midwest, USA. Litter and soil invertebrates are directly impacted by fire, and these organisms are very important for forest ecosystem functioning. Empirical data is lacking on the impacts that prescribed fire has on specific invertebrates and total diversity. This research will help fill this knowledge gap by assessing the impact of low-intensity prescribed fire on invertebrates across a fire chronosequence of Morton Arboretum oak forests. The data will be incorporated and analyzed with an extensive database detailing the effects of this specific fire chronosequence on above-ground and below-ground properties and processes. The project is lead by M.S. student Brenda Boelter, Chicago State University. This project is sponsored by Maggie Cole (IL DNR Natural Heritage Regional Administrator) and funded in part by the IL DNR Wildlife Preservation Fund. Brenda has successfully her defended her M.S. Thesis. The FIBE results were presented at the 2010 Soil Science Society of America meetings in Long Beach, CA.

FIBE - Fire Impacts on the Belowground Ecosystem (2008-2010)

CLICK HERE for draft of the manuscript submitted to Forest Ecology and Management.

CLICK HERE for a copy of the final report to the IL DNR.

Annually-burned oak forest (top-left) and litter layer (bottom-left), unburned-control (top-middle) and litter layer (bottom-middle), mite (top-right), and springtail (bottom-right).