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Local size structure is frequently measured in plant populations and forested systems due to its association with population‐ and community‐level processes. In contrast, size structure is rarely examined within herbaceous communities despite evidence for size‐dependent processes in these systems, suggesting an important functional vegetation property may be widely overlooked. Here, we test whether vertical size structure (a) varies within a short‐stature grassland, (b) varies along a productivity gradient, and (c) enhances the understanding of a foundational ecological pattern: the diversity–productivity relationship.

Rough fescue grassland in Alberta, Canada.

We measured the heights of individuals within 32 plots and used average height, the Gini coefficient, and a two‐parameter Weibull distribution to estimate community‐level vertical size structure. Linear mixed models were …