Changes in vegetation structure induced by domestic grazing in Patagonia (Southern Argentina)

► We evaluated the effect of grazing regime on structural attributes of Patagonian steppes. ► Areas where grazing was excluded had higher total cover, richness and diversity than grazed areas. ► In the exclosures the relative abundance of shrubs was higher than in grazed areas. ► Grazing did not induced shrub encroachment in these steppes. ► Physiognomic changes were less important than those observed at the species level.