Ecologist James H. Brown of the University of New Mexico has addressed species composition and richness in experiments conducted since 1977 in the Chihuahuan desert of southeastern Arizona. In one experiment, the removal of three dominant species, all kangaroo rats, from several plots resulted in an increased diversity of other rodent species. This increase was ascribed both to lowered competition for food and also to an altered habitat, because the abundance of grass species ____ after the removal of the kangaroo rats.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The removal of kangaroo rats, which are dominant species, likely reduced grazing pressure on grass species, allowing them to increase in abundance.