Figure 3. Conceptual map of the main findings of the study for an intermediated time after fire.

Unburned plots were most characterized by graminoid-form and taller plants leading to increased proportions of ground hunter spiders. Plant biomass gradient also acted as an important environmental filter for this kind of spiders probably by maintaining proper conditions of shelters and microclimate in soil surface. On the other hand, burned plots presented increased proportions of rosette-form plants with broader leaves which favored spiders building orb webs; this hunting strategy also converged positively in the plant FD gradient influenced by suitable vegetation structure to attach their webs. Additionally, spider individuals occurring in more functionally diverse plant communities were more functionally diverse concerning their traits (body, chelicerae and eye size, and web type building) because functionally diverse plant communities provide more ecological niches and increased possibility of resource exploitation, following the habitat heterogeneity hypothesis. Photo in the left: Araneidae web in Eryngium horridum (Apiaceae) by Denise Dell'Aglio; Photo in the right: Lycosa erythrognatha by Estevam Cruz.