Herbivore-dominated

Referring to an ecosystem, environment, or area where the majority of the biomass, activity, or ecological influence is attributable to herbivores (animals that primarily consume plants). This implies a significant population density, feeding impact, or overall role of plant-eating organisms in shaping the landscape, affecting plant communities, and influencing other animal populations, including predators and scavengers. It encompasses a dynamic interaction between plants and herbivores, where plant abundance and composition are greatly shaped by herbivore grazing or browsing pressures. The term highlights the importance of herbivores in determining ecosystem structure and function.

Herbivore-dominated meaning with examples

• The vast grasslands of the Serengeti are a classic example of an herbivore-dominated ecosystem. Millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles roam these plains, consuming vast quantities of grasses and influencing vegetation patterns through grazing. This herbivore pressure significantly shapes the grassland’s appearance and impacts the plants, and in turn support a complex web of predators.
• In the prehistoric period the earth and its vast rainforest were herbivore-dominated. Dinosaurs, like the Brachiosaurus and the Triceratops, roamed the earth. These enormous plant-eaters exerted a massive influence on their environments, and played a crucial role in shaping ecosystems that likely contained far more varied vegetation than we know today. The plant-life changed as the dinosaurs thrived.
• Many coral reefs, despite their vibrant marine biodiversity, can exhibit herbivore-dominated zones. Herbivorous fish, like parrotfish and surgeonfish, play a crucial role in controlling the growth of algae. This process is key for preventing algae from smothering corals, keeping the reef healthy and creating a diverse ecosystem where other species thrive or decline based on this equilibrium of herbivores and plant life.
• A controlled grazing experiment in a pasture demonstrated how quickly a formerly mixed plant community became herbivore-dominated. After introducing a herd of cattle, the more palatable plant species were grazed down quickly, leaving behind less desirable or resistant varieties, and changing the landscape. This clearly demonstrated the herbivore’s influence.