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Ecological dominance is the degree to which one or several species have a major influence controlling the other species in theirecological community (because of their large size, population, productivity, or related factors)^[1] or make up more of thebiomass. Both the composition and abundance of species within an ecosystem can be affected by the dominant species present.^[2]

In most of the world's ecosystems, biologists have repeatedly observed arank-abundance curve in which ecosystems comprise a handful of incredibly abundant species, but more numerous, rarer species that are few in number.^[3][4][5][6] Danish botanistChristen C. Raunkiær described this phenomenon as his "law of frequency" in 1918, in which he recognized that in communities with a single species accounting for most of the biomass, species diversity was often lower.^[7]

Understandably, biologists expect to see more profound effects from those species greater in number.^[8] First formalized as themass ratio hypothesis in a 1998 paper by English ecologistJ. Philip Grime, ecologically dominant species are predicted to have overwhelming effects on ecosystem function and ecological processes due to their relatively high biomass and ubiquity.^[9]

Most ecological communities are defined by their dominant species.^[10][2]

• In many examples of wetwoodland in westernEurope, the dominant tree is alder (Alnus glutinosa).^[11]
• Intallgrass prairies of NortheasternKansas, the dominant grass is (Andropogon gerardii).^{[12][13][14][15]}
• Intemperatebogs, the dominant vegetation is usually species ofSphagnum moss.^[16]
• Tidal swamps in thetropics are usually dominated by species of mangrove (Rhizophoraceae).^[17][18]
• Some Arctic sea floor communities are dominated bybrittle stars.^[19]
• Exposed rocky shorelines are dominated bysessile organisms such asbarnacles andlimpets.^[20]
• Theturtle ant (Cephalotes pusillus), is thought to dominant arboreal ant communities in theBrazilian savannah.^[21]

There are currently several different metrics for assessing species dominance in natural ecosystems, including theimportance value index,^[22]competitive index,^[23]community importance index,^[24] anddominance index.^[2]

• National Vegetation Classification, a system for classifyingBritish plant communities by their dominant species
• Monodominance

• Dominant Species in a Diverse Ecosystem

• Habitats

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