Journal of Advanced Laboratory Research in Biology E-ISSN: 0976-7614 Volume 11, Issue 4, October 2020 PP 58-65 https://e-journal.sospublication.co.in Research Article Fire Impacts on Forest Ecosystem: With a Focus on the Resilience of Tree Species and Dramatic Change in Insect Populations Rostam Salam Aziz1 , Rawaz Rostam Hamadamin2 , Muzafer Kanaby Omer3* 1,2Department of Geography, Faculty of Education, Koya University, Koya KOY45, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq. 3Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Health, Koya University, Koya KOY45, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq. Abstract: The research data was collected from forests located at Haibat Sultan Mountain in Koya district for three years from 2014 to 2017. At the sampling location, fire outbreaks occur many times a year. This study aims to determine the environmental impacts of forest fire on vegetation and insects. This results in the identification of the most fire-resistant trees and the impact of burning on the environment. In the Haibat Sultan Mountain forest, four types of tree species are distinguished which are Pine, Cupressus, Pistachio and Oak, their contribution to cover the area is 63%, 19%, 15% and 3% respectively. Oak is the only native tree of the forest and one of the most resistant species, 93 percent of which can survive, but the other species Cupressus, Pine and Pistachio are introduced with different level of vulnerabilities, with 75%, 60% and 41% of combustion rates, respectively. Forest fire has a significant negative impact on the population of Thaumetopoea solitaria Freyer and Schistocerca gregaria, both of which are the main insects of the forest. The average of the number of egg masses of Thaumetopoea solitaria and nymph and adult of Schistocerca gregaria before the fire is (18.8 masses and 4.1 nymphs and adults), but the average declined dramatically to (3.3 masses and 0.9 nymphs and adults) during the fire season. In the post-fire season, the average is increased significantly (6.3 masses and 1.9 nymphs and adults). Keywords: Haibat Sultan Mountain, Forest Fire, Thaumetopoea solitaria Freyer, Schistocerca gregaria, Pine, Cupressus, Pistachio and Oak. 1. Introduction approximately similar to the proportion that comes from industrial emissions (Amiro et al., 2001). A forest fire may occur naturally or direct or indirect Wildfires may directly contribute to global warming result of human activities. Sometimes it can be controlled by emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases, such as with a minimum loss, but sometimes else it might be out carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and methane of control and causes disaster. The vulnerability of the (Viswanathan et al., 2006) and after the forest fire was environment and tree species resistance against fire varies extinguished, a large portion of the green space was from place to place and depends on the type of vegetation disappeared. Green space was actively improving air and climate (Bahuguna & Upadhay, 2002). In the past, a circulation, providing a cooling effect, protects native forest fire was part of natural cycles, to add carbon plants and animal species and conserve plants, soil and dioxide (CO2) into the air to keep the Earth's greenhouse water quality. phenomenon continuant, and to add aerosol to help in The frequency, intensity, duration, and timing of fire precipitation, but industrial activities have replaced that can vary with climate change (Dale et al., 2001). The need. Thus, the forest fire increases greenhouse gases as a forest fire depends on climatic conditions, such as consequence, it contributes to accelerating global humidity, temperature, frequency of precipitation. In the warming (De Groot et al., 2007) because most of the area of this research, forest fire occurs only in the dry carbon released is in the form of CO2 by approximately seasons. Dry season significantly increases the chances of 90%, carbon monoxide (CO) and methane (CH4) are 9% drought, so the potential occurrence of forest fire may and 1% respectively (Kasischke and Bruhwiler, 2002). In increase simultaneously. A sudden outbreak of fire is Canada, the level of carbon emitted from a forest fire is widespread and catastrophic and significantly impacts flora, fauna and biodiversity in certain environments *Corresponding Author: Muzafer Kanaby Omer 0000-0002-6604-313X Received on: 24 August 2020 E-mail: [email protected] Accepted on: 23 September 2020 Phone No.: 07501187590 Fire Impacts on Forest Ecosystem Omar et al (Loarie et al., 2009; Myers, 2006; Nelson and Chomitz, In some grassland ecosystems, fire can influence 2009). Recovery of trees, vegetation and affected species, grasshopper population dynamics and community especially those that are distinct cannot go parallel with composition (Bock and Bock, 1991). This study shows the changes. that Desert Locust (Schistocerca gregaria) was The habit of the river watercourse and quality of the influenced by fire in the Haibat Sultan Mountains, where water may change when the green space disappears in planted and native trees are mixed with grass. Most certain catchments, particularly after a catastrophic forest grasshopper species in temperate regions overwinter as fire (Dahm et al., 2015). Forests can manage floods, as eggs in the soil (Guo et al., 2009). Fire occurs more they can reduce peak runoff (Dale et al., 2001; Calder frequently and more extensively during the late spring and Aylward, 2006; Tan-Soo et al., 2016). Forest fire and early summer and this period grasshopper eggs hatch increases water repellency, which leads to infiltration and into the nymphs (Padmaja, 2016). Adults and nymphs are soil erosion. Water repellency is a soil property that is more influenced than eggs as females lay eggs in an egg most affected by combustion during a forest fire (Doerr, pod in sandy soils at a depth of 10-15cm below the et al., 2000). Fire significantly affects soil physical surface (Symmons & Cressman, 2001). Whereas during properties including increased bulk density, reduced soil fire events, heat penetration can change results due to porosity, and decreased water storage capacity (Xue et higher soil temperatures (Hulbert, 1988), it can lead to an al., 2014). The changes in soil organic matter, affect increase in egg mortality or accelerate hatching chemical, physical, and microbiological properties of the phenology. soil (DeBano, 1991). High surface temperatures ‘burn’ This study has been observed for three years. It aims off organic materials and create vapours that move to understand the impacts of fire on trees and insects in downward in response to a temperature gradient and then the study area. The present study attempts to find which condense on soil particles causing them to become water type of tree species is the most resistant and vulnerable to repellent (Letey, 2001). Soil water repellency is a fire exposure. It also reveals the factors behind the reduction in the rate of wetting and retention of water in decline in insect population; either it is their exposure to soil caused by the presence of hydrophobic coatings on fire or lack of food and shelter after a fire event. soil particles (Hallett, 2009). Water repellency may influence seedling survival and subsequent stand 2. Methodology establishment (Reeder and Jurgensen, 1979). Fire may also affect physicochemical properties of soil, including The research data has been collected over three years texture, colour, bulk density, pH, porosity, organic from 2014 to 2017. During this time, several procedures matter, nutrients availability and soil biota (Jhariya & were followed to survey both selected insects and trees in Raj, 2014). the study area. Also, the effect of forest fire on animals and insects has been extensively studied globally. Fires play an 3. Tree Survey important role in regulating ecosystem productivity and diversity by promoting mineralization of nutrients stored The survey of the trees started after the fire in the in organic matter and allowing the invasion of rapid study area occurred. Once the burnt and survived trees growing early successional species (Busse et al., 1996; have been counted, the approximate number of trees DeBano et al., 1998; Boerner et al., 2009). Fire has before the fire event can be achieved. To have the most influenced the composition, structure and landscape accurate data, this study relied on the practical survey patterns of animal habitat. Wildlife may be affected by instead of remote sensing data as the area is small fire both through direct mortality or habitat alteration because satellite images cannot provide data as accurate (Lyon et al., 2000b). Immediately after the fire, many as it should be. Therefore a team of six people explored insect groups decline markedly, reduction is related to the the study area for four days to count the complete burnt degree of exposure to flames and the mobility of the trees and the surviving ones. To obtain plant data, the insect (Swengel, 2001). burnt trees are marked and their species are determined. Fire affects both overhead and underground GPS was used to drag the exact map of the surveyed area. ecosystem components (Neary & Leonard, 2020). The authors attempted to collect emission data from Various moth families, in the Lepidoptera order, such as local, regional and state authorities on fire characteristics, Saturniidae, Noctuidae and Sphingidae, usually pupate soil contamination and changes in flood habits, etc., but underground (Triplehorn & Johnson, 2005). Pupation of no data were available. Pistachio Processionary Moth Thaumetopoea solitaria Freyer occurs in litter and upper soil, the depth of which 4. Insect Data Collection varies from one place to another. In Israel, it is usually not more than 10cm below the surface, but in Iran, In the study area, only two of the most common pupation was reported to occur at 15-25cm deep insect species have been selected as samples. Insect data (Davatchi, 1958). This difference is related to the were taken from a master's degree dissertation on Haibat environment and climate conditions.