Resources do not limit compensatory response of a tallgrass prairie plant community to the loss of a dominant species

The effect of species loss on ecosystem productivity is determined by both the functional contribution of the species lost, and the response of the remaining species in the community. According to the mass-ratio hypothesis, the loss of a dominant plant species, which has a larger proportionate contribution to productivity, is expected to exert an overwhelming effect on this important ecosystem function. However, via competitive release, loss of a dominant species can provide the opportunity for other plant species to establish, thrive and become abundant in the community, potentially compensating for the function lost. Furthermore, if resource limitation is removed, then compensatory response of function to the loss of a dominant species should be greater and more rapid than if resources are more limiting.

To evaluate how resources may limit compensation of aboveground productivity to the loss of a dominant plant species, we experimentally removed the C4 perennial tallgrass, Andropog...