Traits of dominant plant species drive normalized difference vegetation index in grasslands globally

Abstract Aim Theoretical, experimental and observational studies have shown that biodiversity–ecosystem functioning (BEF) relationships are influenced by functional community structure through two mutually non‐exclusive mechanisms: (1) the dominance effect (which relates to the traits of the dominant species); and (2) the niche partitioning effect [which relates to functional diversity (FD)]. Although both mechanisms have been studied in plant communities and experiments at small spatial extents, it remains unclear whether evidence from small‐extent case studies translates into a generalizable macroecological pattern. Here, we evaluate dominance and niche partitioning effects simultaneously in grassland systems world‐wide. Location Two thousand nine hundred and forty‐one grassland plots globally. Time period 2000–2014. Major taxa studied Vascular plants. Methods We obtained plot‐based data on functional community structure…