Long-term effects of a wildfire on the soil nematode communities in the spruce forest ecosystem of High Tatra National Park

This study evaluated the effect of a wildfire on soil nematode communities in the spruce forest ecosystem of the High Tatra Mountains 8 years after the fire. Two plots were established, an intact control plot (REF) and a fire-damaged plot after a windstorm (FIR). A total of 20 representative soil samples were collected; 10 from each site (five in June and five in October). A total of 64 species of nematodes were recorded. The mean number of species 8 years after the fire ranged from 24 to 36 and was always significantly higher in REF than in FIR (P