Organism
Little Bluestem
TL;DR
A drought-adapted prairie grass that demonstrates response diversity in action.
A drought-adapted prairie grass that demonstrates response diversity in action. During the 2012 Cedar Creek drought, little bluestem thrived in diverse plots where it had been suppressed during wet years, filling in bare patches left by struggling big bluestem and maintaining community productivity. This species exemplifies how functionally similar species (grasses performing photosynthesis) can have different environmental tolerances, providing insurance against unpredictable conditions.
Notable Traits of Little Bluestem
- Drought-adapted
- Suppressed during wet years
- Thrives when dominant species struggle
- Demonstrates response diversity