Recent studies have argued that changes in fire regimes in the 21st century are posing a major threat to global biodiversity. In this scenario, incorporating species’ physiological, ecological, and evolutionary traits with their local fire exposure might facilitate accurate identification of species most at risk from fire. Here, we developed a framework for identifying the animal species most vulnerable to extinction from fire-induced stress in the Brazilian savanna. The proposed framework addresses vulnerability from two components: (1) exposure, which refers to the frequency, extent, and magnitude to which a system or species experiences fire, and (2) sensitivity, which reflects how much species are affected by fire. Sensitivity is based on biological, physiological, and behavioral traits that can influence animals’ mortality “during” and “after” fire. We generated a Fire Vulnerability Index (FVI) that can be used to group species into four categories, ranging from extremely vulnerable (highly sensible species in highly exposed areas), to least vulnerable (low-sensitivity species in less exposed areas). We highlight the urgent need to broaden fire vulnerability assessment methods and introduce a new approach considering biological traits that contribute significantly to a species’ sensitivity alongside regional/local fire exposure.

We surveyed the avifauna of Alto do Palácio, Serra do Cipó National Park, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The park lies in the southern Espinhaço range, a significant biogeographical barrier that separates the forest areas of the Atlantic Forest on its eastern slope and the savanna-like vegetation of the Cerrado to its western slope. Representative habitats include open grasslands, with patches of rocky outcrops and woodlands. We recorded 151 species between 2007 and 2010. Most species occurred in woodlands, with the minority in rocky outcrops, eleven species are of conservation concern, nineteen are endemic to the Atlantic Forest, three to Cerrado, and four to the southeastern Brazilian mountaintops, two of which are restricted to campos rupestres of the Espinhaço range. Our results corroborate that the campos rupestres of the Espinhaço range are not only associated with the Cerrado biome, but harbor species associated with both surrounding biomes (Cerrado and Atlantic Forest) and to the mountaintops of southeastern Brazil, supporting the uniqueness of this vegetation type.

Mountains are hotspots of biodiversity and endemism, but biogeography and diversification in tropical montane grasslands remain poorly understood. We reviewed hypotheses explaining the origin of vertebrate fauna ranging from phylogeography to community-scale patterns, while also considering historical biogeography and macroevolutionary dynamics in campo rupestre in the Espinhaço Range. We conducted a systematic review of papers published in 1945–2023 on vertebrate ecology, biogeography, and diversification in campo rupestre. The vertebrate fauna of campo rupestre is characterized by high levels of biodiversity and endemism relative to area extent across most taxa. Unfortunately, such diversity is increasingly threatened, with ~20% of endemic species listed on the IUCN Red List. Hummingbirds are key pollinators, whereas seed dispersal is performed primarily by generalist birds, small mammals, and lizards. A combination of isolation, range shifts, and species persistence played key roles in shaping diversification dynamics in these ancient mountains. High levels of diversity, endemism, and the occurrence of threatened species underscore the pressing need for funding conservation of the outstanding biodiversity in the Espinhaço Range. We propose a research agenda to fill knowledge gaps and promote research needed to provide a more complete understanding of the biogeographical scenario and accelerate protection strategies.

Cipo Canastero (Asthenes luizae) is a bird endemic to Brazilian mountaintops, inhabiting rock outcrop habitats of the campos rupestres in the southern Espinhaço Range. Available data about Cipo Canastero’s breeding biology are scarce, incomplete or inconsistent. All nests found to date were built in the plant Vellozia nivea. Based on 84 nests found from 2009 to 2017 in four sites at Serra do Cipó, we described in detail their nesting habits focusing on three groups of characters: nest architecture, composition, and placement. Also, we described nest building. Our major new findings on the nesting habits of A. luizae were: three nest layers distinguishable, inner lining covering the entire nest interior, tunnels and tubes are absent, and the nest sites are not restricted to V. nivea. We recorded a wide range of nest sites, from ground, grasses and rupicolous bromeliads to shrubs and trees, including at least 30 supporting-plant species. Nest supports varied among study sites. Nest building lasted 22 days (one nest) and was done by both members of the pair. Our data can be useful for species conservation and contribute to the knowledge of the natural history of the genus Asthenes.