Changes, trends, and gaps in research dynamics after the megafires in the Pantanal

Climate change increases environmental catastrophes and demands new knowledge, altering perspectives and approaches in scientific fields. How do research networks become structured, and what are the study profiles and expectations before and after catastrophic events? Our study model was the megafire in 2020 in the Pantanal wetland, aiming to identify research net fragility, strengths, gaps, and perspectives. We performed a bibliographic search about the Pantanal pre (1945–2019) and post megafire periods (2020–2022), choosing bibliographic and ecological-environmental indicators, characterizing article profile and research net structure, and institution net interactions. We identified changes in the number of published works, impact of publications, themes covered, type of environments and, taxonomic groups studied, how fire was approached in studies, way of obtaining data, and places where studies were carried out when comparing both periods. Furthermore, we observed the increase and strengthening of connections between research institutions. We identified knowledge gaps, e.g., relations between fire, fauna, and human aspects and we outline research trajectories in the short, medium, and long term. The new research network should fill these gaps and be designed in an integrated way, addressing the different contexts involving fire management.