Land-use history, fire regime, and large-mammal herbivory affect deer-preferred plant diversity in longleaf pine woodlands

•Forests experience multiple types of disturbance that may affect plant species richness.•The effect of deer on plant species richness in longleaf forests depended on disturbance.•Deer had the greatest effect on focal plant species richness in forests with low fire frequency.•Management that increases fire frequency may thus indirectly increase plant species richness.