Presence of a dominant native shrub is associated with minor shifts in the function and composition of grassland communities in a northern savannah.

Ecosystems are spatially heterogenous in plant community composition and function. Shrub occurrence in grasslands is a visually striking example of this, and much research has been conducted to understand the functional implications of this pattern. Within savannah ecosystems, the presence of tree and shrub overstories can have significant impacts on the understory herbaceous community.