Demystifying dominant species

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Community Ecology
• Ecosystem Science

Background:

• Ecological communities worldwide exhibit a pattern of few abundant species and many rare species.
• Abundant species, termed dominant species, are vital but lack a precise, universally accepted definition.
• Existing definitions of dominant species are inconsistent, leading to varied interpretations and applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a synthetic, robust definition of dominant species.
• To identify metrics for consistently identifying dominant species within ecological communities.
• To underscore the importance of dominant species in linking biodiversity patterns to ecosystem functions.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive review of historical and contemporary definitions of dominant species.
• Development of a synthetic definition incorporating relative abundance, ubiquity, and ecological impact.
• Meta-analysis of species removal studies to assess the impact of identified dominant species.

Main Results:

• A new synthetic definition of dominant species is proposed, integrating abundance, ubiquity, and impact.
• Meta-analysis confirms that the removal of species identified as dominant significantly alters ecosystem functioning and community structure.
• Two joint metrics are recommended for the identification of dominant species.

Conclusions:

• A clear definition and consistent metrics for dominant species are essential for ecological research.
• Dominant species play a critical role in maintaining ecosystem functions and community stability.
• Understanding dominant species is key to predicting ecosystem responses to global change and species loss.