Abundance and diaspore weight in rare and common prairie grasses

Abstract

Abundance (g/m 2 ) and diaspore weight are positively correlated in seven species of perennial grasses that occur in prairies. The rare grasses (<10.0 g/m 2 ) have light dispersal units (0.06 to 1.76 mg); the common grasses (>10.0 g/m 2 ) have heavy dispersal units (2.23 to 2.80 mg). This result is the first reported differentiating trait between related rare and common organisms occurring in same habitat.