U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, Nebraska
Date of this Version
2006
Abstract
Grime’s (1998) ‘‘mass-ratio’’ hypothesis holds that ecosystem processes depend in the short term on functional properties of dominant plants and in the longer term on how resident species influence the recruitment of dominants. The latter of these effects may be especially important among early-successional species in disturbed ecosystems, but experimental tests are few. We removed two groups of early-successional species, an annual forb Gutierrezia dracunculoides (DC.) S. F. Blake and annual species (mostly grasses) that complete growth early in the growing season [early-season (ES) species], from a heavily-grazed grassland in central Texas, USA dominated by a C4 perennial grass. We sought to determine effects of annuals on grassland functioning [productivity, water balance, soil and plant nitrogen (N)] and composition.
Comments
Published in Oikos 113: 287-295.