forbdominated

Forbdominated, in ecological usage, refers to plant communities in which forbs—non-woody flowering herbaceous plants—constitute the majority of live vegetation biomass and species diversity. This term distinguishes forb-dominated assemblages from grass-dominated systems, shrublands, and forests, emphasizing the relative dominance of forbs in structure and function.

Characteristics of forb-dominated communities often include a high richness of forb species, a diverse array of growth forms, and seasonal flowering that supports a wide range of pollinators. These communities can occur in temperate grasslands, prairies, Mediterranean-type ecosystems, and post-disturbance habitats where disturbance regimes such as fire, grazing, or drought influence species composition. Forbs may respond to nutrient availability, moisture patterns, and soil texture in ways that produce a mosaic of microhabitats within the landscape.

Ecological roles of forb-dominated communities include providing nectar and pollen resources for pollinators, contributing to soil stabilization and organic matter inputs, and enhancing biodiversity and resilience to environmental change. They can serve as important components of restoration and rehabilitation projects, particularly where native forb diversity supports ecosystem services.

Management and restoration of forb-dominated communities typically involve promoting disturbance regimes that favour forbs, controlling aggressively expanding grasses or woody species, and seeding or re-seeding diverse forb assemblages. Monitoring often relies on measures of forb cover, richness, and community composition to assess progress and guide adaptive management.

Notes: the term emphasizes functional dominance by forbs and is context-dependent, varying with climate, land use history, and regional flora.