Konza Prairie is a C 4 -dominated grassland with a typical midwestern continental climate and mean annual precipitation of 835 mm. Averaged across all years, there is a stimulatory effect of burning on ANPP in lowland sites where soil water is least likely to be limiting. The increase in total ANPP is driven by the positive response of the dominant C 4 grasses to fire, while the productivity, and abundance, of forbs is reduced by frequent burning. This has important consequences for biodiversity in this grassland. However, grazing by bison, a native ungulate herbivore, increases plant species richness even in frequently burned prairie.
Bison are key in altering the function and structure of tallgrass prairie at multiple scales.
Bison establish and maintain large grazing lawns whereas cattle graze small patches distributed more uniformly across the landscape. Total plant species is higher in bison areas however, that number is due to a greater number of annual forb species in bison pastures.