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Spatial Dynamics and Lifespan of Adult Cicadas After Fire and Logging: A Radiotracking Study
Carles Tobella1, Marc Franch1,2, Josep M Bas1
1Departament de Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain.
Integrative Zoology
|March 27, 2025
Summary
Wildfire and salvage logging harm cicada populations by reducing habitat quality and increasing predation. Preserving fire refuges is crucial for forest ecosystem resilience and biodiversity conservation.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Forestry
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- Recently burnt and logged habitats pose significant challenges to animal population persistence.
- Insects like cicadas, surviving underground, face increased predation and resource limitation upon emergence after fire and logging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the combined effects of wildfire and post-fire salvage logging on cicada (Lyristes plebejus) survival, spatial behavior, and habitat selection.
- To assess how disturbance contexts (burnt/logged, burnt/unlogged, unburnt) influence cicada ecology in Mediterranean pine forests.
Main Methods:
- Radio telemetry was used to track the movements of 63 captured and tagged cicadas.
- Movement, home range size, and survival were compared across three disturbance contexts: burnt and logged, burnt and unlogged, and unburnt plots.
Main Results:
- Cicadas in burnt but unlogged areas exhibited greater mobility and selected habitats with lower fire severity compared to those in burnt and logged areas.
- Salvage logging removed critical fire refuges, leading to increased cicada exposure to predators.
- While total distance traveled did not differ significantly, cicadas in burnt and logged areas showed reduced movement rates, indicating impaired habitat selection capabilities.
Conclusions:
- Salvage logging exacerbates the negative impacts of wildfires on cicada populations, highlighting the importance of preserving biological legacies and fire refuges.
- Effective forest management strategies that consider both fire impacts and post-fire interventions are essential for maintaining biodiversity and promoting ecosystem resilience.
