Answer:
Succession
Explanation:
The biologists were attempting to imitate succession.
Succession refers to a gradual change to the structure and species composition of a community over a period of time.
A newly colonized environment such as a bare rock forms a community is said to be in primary succession. Thereafter, the structure and composition of the community keep changing until a relatively stable community, otherwise known as climax community, is established.
Secondary succession happens when a disturbed community tries to regain its original dynamics in terms of species composition and structure. A climax community is often less diverse than a community that is still in active succession.
Hence, the biologists were attempting to imitate succession by burning/disturning a relatively stable, less diverse climax community of grassland in order to realize a more diverse community that will undergo secondary succession.
