Wildfire Influence on the Assemblage of Bees and Wasps (Hymenoptera) in El Impenetrable National Park

Introduction: Wildfires, mostly caused by human activities, represent a growing threat in Argentina and are aggravated by climate change, which increases favorable conditions for their spread. In addition to their devastating effects on vegetation, they generate smoke emissions that negatively affect human health and fauna, especially insects. This study focused on El Impenetrable National Park, where bee and wasp populations were compared before and after the fires that occurred in 2022. Methods: Traps were set in different areas of the park to capture these insects in November 2021 (before the fires) and November 2023 (after the fires). Results: Seventeen species/morphospecies of bees and wasps were identified, and a decrease in species richness was evidenced after the fires. Beta diversity revealed a particular species composition each year, with a significant loss of species after the fires. This decrease in richness and diversity can be attributed not only to the direct effects of the fires but also to the effect of smoke on the behavior of flying insects. Conclusions: Wildfires negatively affected the assembly of bees and wasps in El Impenetrable National Park in 2022, initiating a post-fire period with low levels of richness and diversity. The importance of monitoring these insects and studying the fire regime of the region is emphasized to better understand the complex interactions in ecosystems and propose actions for the conservation and sustainable usage of the resources.