A burning issue: Fire overrides grazing as a disturbance driver for South African grassland bird and arthropod assemblage structure and diversity

► Fire frequency overrides the effects of grazing on bird and arthropod abundance and diversity. ► Arthropods and avifauna show a preference for infrequently burnt habitats. ► Bird assemblages are driven by burning initially and then grazing in the breeding season. ► Conserved grasslands hold the highest diversity of arthropods and birds.