Project Grant 2520382

This federal Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) provides $468,683.00 to the University of California, Berkeley to conduct collaborative research on the physiological, phenological, and phylogenetic characteristics of grasses. The research aims to develop better mechanistic models to predict how grass distributions will respond to changing environmental conditions, such as rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns. This is critical, as grasses provide important ecosystem services like habitat for pollinators and food for animals, but differ in their ability to perform these functions based on seasonal growth patterns and drought tolerance. The project will use novel observational techniques to gather data on a broad range of grass species, filling major gaps in understanding plant traits and tradeoffs across different environments. This information will help manage resilient grasslands and the ecosystem services they provide in the face of climate change.