The diversity of our native grassland species is in decline. Restoration ecologists working to restore native grasslands are experimenting with combinations of burning and grazing to simulate natural conditions and increase species diversity. According to Joseph Connell, what level of burning and grazing should ecologists aim for?

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Joseph Connell's intermediate disturbance hypothesis suggests that species diversity is maximized when ecological disturbances are neither too rare nor too frequent. This implies that the level of burning and grazing should be strong enough to limit interspecific competition (which can be high in the absence of disturbance), but not so strong that it limits the number of species that can tolerate the environment. This approach helps maintain a balance that encourages diversity without allowing any one species to dominate due to either too much or too little disturbance.

The Diversity of Our Native Grassland Species Is in Decline