Diversity Keeps Grasslands Resilient to Drought Climate Change
For much of the year drought has been plaguing American
grasslands. But a recent study found that grasses do not appear
to be losing the turf war against climate when it comes to
surviving with little precipitation. The Kansas State
University-led study looked at the drought tolerance of 426
species of grass from around the world. The goal was to better
understand how grasslands in different parts of the world may
respond to the changes in frequency and severity of drought in
the future. Grasslands have several important ecological
functions, according to Joseph Craine, research assistant
professor of biology and the study's lead author. Grasslands
convert and store carbon dioxide, are a food source for grazing
animals like cattle and bison, and help cool the surrounding
atmosphere. "The idea is that if you maintain a diverse
grassland, you'll have a large number of drought-tolerant
species ready to take over critical functions if there is a
chang