“…In southern Brazil, grasslands show spatial heterogeneity that is mediated by fire and grazing regimes (Pillar & Quadros, 1997; Overbeck et al, 2005; Fischer et al, 2019). Thus far, positive or neutral effects of burning were found on grassland plants (Overbeck et al, 2005; Overbeck & Pfadenhauer, 2007; Fidelis et al, 2012), birds (Beal‐Neves et al, 2020; Chiarani et al, 2020), ant–plant interactions (da Silva et al, 2020), and ecosystem processes (Abreu et al, 2017). While phytogeographic and palynological evidence reveals that these grasslands were shaped by a drier and colder past climate and under the influence of large grazers (Rambo, 1956; Behling, 2002; Behling et al, 2004; Behling & Pillar, 2007), in the absence of large grazers fire has maintained the grassland physiognomy despite the current climate and soil allowing forests to develop (Pillar & Quadros, 1997;Overbeck et al, 2005; Fidelis et al, 2012).…”