POSTFIRE SUCCESSIONS OF COLLEMBOLA IN LOWLAND HEATHS IN SOUTH-EASTERNUK

Collembola were extracted from soil samples from three lowland heath s ites in south-east England. All sites were dominated by heather last b urned in 1976. At two sites there had been recent fires, while at the third had recently undergone mechanical soil removal, giving a range o f successional stages. A total of 25 species of Collembola were identi fied, with at least one species being unique to each site. Principal c omponents ordination showed that the greatest source of variation was the community difference between an urban heath on a non-podzolic soil and the communities found on long-established heaths on podzols. With in each site the greatest source of variance was the difference betwee n burnt and unburnt sites. Burnt sites contained a depauperate communi ty but contained species not found on unburnt sites. High population d ensities (dominated by immature Collembola) were found on a burnt site within 8 weeks of a shallow fire. The possibility is mooted that fire s may cause an enhanced egg germination of some Collembola.