Plantdomination

Plantdomination is a theoretical ecological state in which plant life becomes the dominant functional group within an ecosystem, shaping energy flow, nutrient cycling, and habitat structure. In this regime, plant biomass is the largest reservoir of living matter and primary producers drive most system-level processes, while animals and microbes align with plant-dominated habitats. The term is used in ecological theory and speculative worldbuilding to explore long-term planetary trajectories.

Key drivers and mechanisms include high net primary productivity under favorable climate and soils, rapid plant reproduction and clonal spread, and extensive mutualisms with mycorrhizal fungi. Feedbacks such as canopy expansion, increased shading, and improved soil moisture retention can further favor plants over other functional groups. Disturbance regimes—fire, drought, or herbivory pressure—can also shift ecosystems toward plant-dominated states when regeneration and resilience favor woody or herbaceous cover.

Evidence for plant-dominated regimes arises mainly from theoretical models, paleoecological analogs, and some modern systems undergoing rapid structural change. Real-world occurrence is contested, as animal and microbial processes interact with plants to maintain heterogeneity. In modeling contexts, plantdomination helps researchers examine implications for biodiversity, carbon storage, fire regimes, and landscape resilience, as well as the potential biosignatures of plant-driven ecosystems on Earth and beyond.

See also ecological regime shift and plant ecology.