COI metabarcoding data from arthropod pollinator communities in burned and unburned sites of California

Novel wildfire regimes are rapidly changing global ecosystems and pose
significant challenges for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem
management. In this study, we used DNA metabarcoding to assess the
response of arthropod pollinator communities to large-scale wildfires
across diverse habitat types in California. We sampled six reserves within
the University of California Natural Reserve System (UCNRS), each of which
was partially burned in the 2020 Lightning Complex wildfires in
California. Using yellow pan traps to target pollinators, we collected
arthropods from burned and unburned sites across multiple habitat types
including oak woodland, redwood, scrub, chamise, grassland, forest, and
serpentine habitats. We found no significant difference in alpha diversity
values between burned and unburned sites; instead, seasonal variations
played a significant role in arthropod community dynamics, with the
emergence of plant species in Spring promoting increased pollinator
richness at all sites. When comparing all sites, we found that burn status
was not a significant grouping factor. Instead, compositional differences
were largely explained by geographic differences, with distinct
communities within each reserve. Within a geographic area, the response of
arthropods to fire was dependent on habitat type. While communities in
grasslands and oak woodlands exhibited recovery following burn, scrublands
experienced substantial changes in community composition. Our study
highlights the importance of examining community responses to wildfires
across broad spatial scales and diverse habitat types. By understanding
the nuanced dynamics of arthropod communities in response to fire
disturbances, we can develop effective conservation strategies that
promote resilience and maintain biodiversity in the face of increasing
wildfire frequency and severity driven by climate change.