** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** IT SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISING THAT PLANTS THAT CAN ABSORB MORE WATER WILL BE MORE ABUNDANT IN WATER LIMITED AREAS LIKE THE WESTERN US. YET, WE RARELY KNOW HOW MUCH WATER DIFFERENT SPECIES ABSORB BECAUSE IT IS DIFFICULT TO MEASURE. THIS RESEARCH WILL USE NEW EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES TO DIRECTLY MEASURE WATER UPTAKE BY SPECIES COMMON TO THE WESTERN US. WE CAN USE THIS INFORMATION TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH SPECIES GROW, WHICH SPECIES CAN COEXIST, AND HOW SPECIES WILL RESPOND TO CLIMATE CHANGE. THIS INFORMATION CAN HELP RANCHERS SELECT MANAGEMENT APPROACHES. FOR EXAMPLE, WILL GRASS GROWTH INCREASE OR DECREASE OVER TIME? HOW MUCH WILL GRASS GROWTH RESPOND TO SHRUB MANAGEMENT IN THE FUTURE? CONSERVATIONISTS CAN USE THIS INFORMATION TO FIND LOCATIONS WHERE RARE SPECIES ARE LIKELY TO SUCCEED IN THE FUTURE. LAND MANAGERS CAN USE THIS INFORMATION TO SELECT SPECIES THAT ARE LIKELY TO SUCCEED AND CAN MEET MANAGEMENT GOALS WHETHER THOSE ARE FOR PRODUCTIVITY, DIVERSITY, CARBON SEQUESTION, OR FIRE CONTROL.