The role of dominant species in community organization and aboveground production in semiarid grasslands

Abstract

Dominant species play a key role in plant communities, influencing the abundance and richness of subordinate species through competitive and facilitative interactions. However, generalizations about the effects of dominant plant species in grasslands can be difficult due to the many differences among communities, such as abiotic conditions and regional species pools. To overcome this issue, we conducted a dominant species removal experiment in two semiarid grassland communities at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in central New Mexico. These communities had different dominant species but similar abiotic conditions and regional species pools. We studied the effects of removing dominant species on community composition, diversity, and aboveground net primary production (ANPP) over a 23-year period. Our results showed that dominant grasses suppressed both richness and abundance of subordinate species. In the Chihuahuan Desert grassland, the loss of Bouteloua eriopoda was only partially compensated for by subordinate species, while in the Great Plains grassland, the loss of Bouteloua gracilis was fully compensated for after 16 years. Despite increased species richness, removing dominant species reduced ANPP and resulted in a negative relationship between species richness and ANPP in both grasslands. These results have important implications for ecosystem management and conservation, highlighting the potential impact of losing dominant species on subordinate species and community dynamics.