Growth form and lifespan of herbaceous species mediate the role of traits in short-term drought response

Samantha J Worthy; Justin C Luong; Brooke E Wainwright; Jonathan Aguiñaga; Harald Auge; Anca C Barcu; Amgaa Batbaatar; Karen H Beard; Edward W Bork; Katherine E Brafford; Kerry M Byrne; James F Cahill; Michele Carbognani; Cameron N Carlyle; Karen Castillioni; Manjunatha H Chandregowda; Scott X Chang; Jeff Chieppa; Amber C Churchill; Jennifer E Cribbs; Thomas Deola; Jeffrey S Dukes; Anne Ebeling; Nico Eisenhauer; Elise C Elwood; Regina A Fairbanks; T'ai G W Forte; Flavia A Funk; Anjum K Gujral; Siri V Haugum; Yann Hautier; Hugh A L Henry; Forest Isbell; Anke Jentsch; Samuel E Jordan; Sally E Koerner; Juergen Kreyling; György Kröel-Dulay; Andrew Kulmatiski; Eric G Lamb; Michael E Loik; María G Longo; Alejandro Loydi; Dylan J MacArthur-Waltz; Clara Milano; John W Morgan; Akira S Mori; Seth M Munson; Gregory S Newman; Uffe N Nielsen; Rory C O'Connor; Timothy J Ohlert; Brooke B Osborne; Rafael Otfinowski; Meelis Pärtel; Pablo L Peri; Guadalupe Peter; Alessandro Petraglia; Juan M Piñeiro-Guerra; Laura W Ploughe; Cristy Portales-Reyes; Sally A Power; Suzanne M Prober; Yolanda Pueyo; Christiane Roscher; Bráulio A Santos; Melinda D Smith; Lara A Souza; Andreas Stampfli; Rachel J Standish; Marie Sünnemann; Michelle J Tedder; Pål Thorvaldsen; Katja Tielbörger; Alejandro Valdecantos; Liesbeth van den Brink; Vigdis Vandvik; Liv G Velle; Jennifer L Williams; Amelia A Wolf; Laura Yahdjian; Alyssa L Young; Juan M Zeberio; Michaela Zeiter; Richard P Phillips; Jennifer L Funk

doi:10.1038/s41559-026-02989-4

Growth form and lifespan of herbaceous species mediate the role of traits in short-term drought response

Samantha J Worthy^*
, Justin C Luong
, Brooke E Wainwright
, Jonathan Aguiñaga
, Harald Auge
, Anca C Barcu
, Amgaa Batbaatar
, Karen H Beard
, Edward W Bork
, Katherine E Brafford
, Kerry M Byrne
, James F Cahill
, Michele Carbognani
, Cameron N Carlyle
, Karen Castillioni
, Manjunatha H Chandregowda
, Scott X Chang
, Jeff Chieppa
, Amber C Churchill
, Jennifer E Cribbs

Thomas Deola, Jeffrey S Dukes, Anne Ebeling, Nico Eisenhauer, Elise C Elwood, Regina A Fairbanks, T'ai G W Forte, Flavia A Funk, Anjum K Gujral, Siri V Haugum, Yann Hautier, Hugh A L Henry, Forest Isbell, Anke Jentsch, Samuel E Jordan, Sally E Koerner, Juergen Kreyling, György Kröel-Dulay, Andrew Kulmatiski, Eric G Lamb, Michael E Loik, María G Longo, Alejandro Loydi, Dylan J MacArthur-Waltz, Clara Milano, John W Morgan, Akira S Mori, Seth M Munson, Gregory S Newman, Uffe N Nielsen, Rory C O'Connor, Timothy J Ohlert, Brooke B Osborne, Rafael Otfinowski, Meelis Pärtel, Pablo L Peri, Guadalupe Peter, Alessandro Petraglia, Juan M Piñeiro-Guerra, Laura W Ploughe, Cristy Portales-Reyes, Sally A Power, Suzanne M Prober, Yolanda Pueyo, Christiane Roscher, Bráulio A Santos, Melinda D Smith, Lara A Souza, Andreas Stampfli, Rachel J Standish, Marie Sünnemann, Michelle J Tedder, Pål Thorvaldsen, Katja Tielbörger, Alejandro Valdecantos, Liesbeth van den Brink, Vigdis Vandvik, Liv G Velle, Jennifer L Williams, Amelia A Wolf, Laura Yahdjian, Alyssa L Young, Juan M Zeberio, Michaela Zeiter, Richard P Phillips, Jennifer L Funk^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Sub Ecology and Biodiversity

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Increased climate variability is expected to intensify short-term drought events. Plants have evolved stress tolerance strategies involving trade-offs in resource conservation, mycorrhizal collaboration and plant size, yet how these strategies promote drought resistance across different herbaceous plant groups remains unknown. Leveraging 63 globally distributed grassland and shrubland sites from the International Drought Experiment, we identified plant traits linked to drought resistance in 661 populations of 421 species after 1 year of extreme drought. We assessed how traits, site precipitation and drought severity affected cover change across growth forms and lifespans, and how trait-environment interactions influenced drought resistance. Across all species, leaf N (an acquisitive trait) was associated with drought resistance, whereas in forbs, drought resistance was also associated with a conservative root trait and plant size. In addition, interactions among traits mediated drought resistance; root traits predicted performance only in concert with other traits. Environmental variables influenced trait effects on drought resistance, notably for annuals in wetter sites, suggesting that drought-escape strategies in annuals may be advantageous only under mild stress. Our study highlights variability in traits that predict drought resistance across herbaceous plant groups, emphasizing the importance of species context, environmental stress and the selection of traits in research and management.

Original language	English
Journal	Nature Ecology & Evolution
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-026-02989-4
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 11 Feb 2026

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited 2026.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 13 Climate Action

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10.1038/s41559-026-02989-4

Cite this

Worthy, S. J., Luong, J. C., Wainwright, B. E., Aguiñaga, J., Auge, H., Barcu, A. C., Batbaatar, A., Beard, K. H., Bork, E. W., Brafford, K. E., Byrne, K. M., Cahill, J. F., Carbognani, M., Carlyle, C. N., Castillioni, K., Chandregowda, M. H., Chang, S. X., Chieppa, J., Churchill, A. C., ... Funk, J. L. (2026). Growth form and lifespan of herbaceous species mediate the role of traits in short-term drought response. Nature Ecology & Evolution. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-026-02989-4

@article{ff2779d4f28f46409a1606d7d0a4025d,

title = "Growth form and lifespan of herbaceous species mediate the role of traits in short-term drought response",

abstract = "Increased climate variability is expected to intensify short-term drought events. Plants have evolved stress tolerance strategies involving trade-offs in resource conservation, mycorrhizal collaboration and plant size, yet how these strategies promote drought resistance across different herbaceous plant groups remains unknown. Leveraging 63 globally distributed grassland and shrubland sites from the International Drought Experiment, we identified plant traits linked to drought resistance in 661 populations of 421 species after 1 year of extreme drought. We assessed how traits, site precipitation and drought severity affected cover change across growth forms and lifespans, and how trait-environment interactions influenced drought resistance. Across all species, leaf N (an acquisitive trait) was associated with drought resistance, whereas in forbs, drought resistance was also associated with a conservative root trait and plant size. In addition, interactions among traits mediated drought resistance; root traits predicted performance only in concert with other traits. Environmental variables influenced trait effects on drought resistance, notably for annuals in wetter sites, suggesting that drought-escape strategies in annuals may be advantageous only under mild stress. Our study highlights variability in traits that predict drought resistance across herbaceous plant groups, emphasizing the importance of species context, environmental stress and the selection of traits in research and management.",

author = "Worthy, \{Samantha J\} and Luong, \{Justin C\} and Wainwright, \{Brooke E\} and Jonathan Agui{\~n}aga and Harald Auge and Barcu, \{Anca C\} and Amgaa Batbaatar and Beard, \{Karen H\} and Bork, \{Edward W\} and Brafford, \{Katherine E\} and Byrne, \{Kerry M\} and Cahill, \{James F\} and Michele Carbognani and Carlyle, \{Cameron N\} and Karen Castillioni and Chandregowda, \{Manjunatha H\} and Chang, \{Scott X\} and Jeff Chieppa and Churchill, \{Amber C\} and Cribbs, \{Jennifer E\} and Thomas Deola and Dukes, \{Jeffrey S\} and Anne Ebeling and Nico Eisenhauer and Elwood, \{Elise C\} and Fairbanks, \{Regina A\} and Forte, \{T'ai G W\} and Funk, \{Flavia A\} and Gujral, \{Anjum K\} and Haugum, \{Siri V\} and Yann Hautier and Henry, \{Hugh A L\} and Forest Isbell and Anke Jentsch and Jordan, \{Samuel E\} and Koerner, \{Sally E\} and Juergen Kreyling and Gy{\"o}rgy Kr{\"o}el-Dulay and Andrew Kulmatiski and Lamb, \{Eric G\} and Loik, \{Michael E\} and Longo, \{Mar{\'i}a G\} and Alejandro Loydi and MacArthur-Waltz, \{Dylan J\} and Clara Milano and Morgan, \{John W\} and Mori, \{Akira S\} and Munson, \{Seth M\} and Newman, \{Gregory S\} and Nielsen, \{Uffe N\} and O'Connor, \{Rory C\} and Ohlert, \{Timothy J\} and Osborne, \{Brooke B\} and Rafael Otfinowski and Meelis P{\"a}rtel and Peri, \{Pablo L\} and Guadalupe Peter and Alessandro Petraglia and Pi{\~n}eiro-Guerra, \{Juan M\} and Ploughe, \{Laura W\} and Cristy Portales-Reyes and Power, \{Sally A\} and Prober, \{Suzanne M\} and Yolanda Pueyo and Christiane Roscher and Santos, \{Br{\'a}ulio A\} and Smith, \{Melinda D\} and Souza, \{Lara A\} and Andreas Stampfli and Standish, \{Rachel J\} and Marie S{\"u}nnemann and Tedder, \{Michelle J\} and P{\aa}l Thorvaldsen and Katja Tielb{\"o}rger and Alejandro Valdecantos and \{van den Brink\}, Liesbeth and Vigdis Vandvik and Velle, \{Liv G\} and Williams, \{Jennifer L\} and Wolf, \{Amelia A\} and Laura Yahdjian and Young, \{Alyssa L\} and Zeberio, \{Juan M\} and Michaela Zeiter and Phillips, \{Richard P\} and Funk, \{Jennifer L\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited 2026.",

year = "2026",

month = feb,

day = "11",

doi = "10.1038/s41559-026-02989-4",

language = "English",

journal = "Nature Ecology \& Evolution",

issn = "2397-334X",

publisher = "Nature Research",

}

Worthy, SJ, Luong, JC, Wainwright, BE, Aguiñaga, J, Auge, H, Barcu, AC, Batbaatar, A, Beard, KH, Bork, EW, Brafford, KE, Byrne, KM, Cahill, JF, Carbognani, M, Carlyle, CN, Castillioni, K, Chandregowda, MH, Chang, SX, Chieppa, J, Churchill, AC, Cribbs, JE, Deola, T, Dukes, JS, Ebeling, A, Eisenhauer, N, Elwood, EC, Fairbanks, RA, Forte, TGW, Funk, FA, Gujral, AK, Haugum, SV, Hautier, Y, Henry, HAL, Isbell, F, Jentsch, A, Jordan, SE, Koerner, SE, Kreyling, J, Kröel-Dulay, G, Kulmatiski, A, Lamb, EG, Loik, ME, Longo, MG, Loydi, A, MacArthur-Waltz, DJ, Milano, C, Morgan, JW, Mori, AS, Munson, SM, Newman, GS, Nielsen, UN, O'Connor, RC, Ohlert, TJ, Osborne, BB, Otfinowski, R, Pärtel, M, Peri, PL, Peter, G, Petraglia, A, Piñeiro-Guerra, JM, Ploughe, LW, Portales-Reyes, C, Power, SA, Prober, SM, Pueyo, Y, Roscher, C, Santos, BA, Smith, MD, Souza, LA, Stampfli, A, Standish, RJ, Sünnemann, M, Tedder, MJ, Thorvaldsen, P, Tielbörger, K, Valdecantos, A, van den Brink, L, Vandvik, V, Velle, LG, Williams, JL, Wolf, AA, Yahdjian, L, Young, AL, Zeberio, JM, Zeiter, M, Phillips, RP & Funk, JL 2026, 'Growth form and lifespan of herbaceous species mediate the role of traits in short-term drought response', Nature Ecology & Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-026-02989-4

TY - JOUR

T1 - Growth form and lifespan of herbaceous species mediate the role of traits in short-term drought response

AU - Worthy, Samantha J

AU - Luong, Justin C

AU - Wainwright, Brooke E

AU - Aguiñaga, Jonathan

AU - Auge, Harald

AU - Barcu, Anca C

AU - Batbaatar, Amgaa

AU - Beard, Karen H

AU - Bork, Edward W

AU - Brafford, Katherine E

AU - Byrne, Kerry M

AU - Cahill, James F

AU - Carbognani, Michele

AU - Carlyle, Cameron N

AU - Castillioni, Karen

AU - Chandregowda, Manjunatha H

AU - Chang, Scott X

AU - Chieppa, Jeff

AU - Churchill, Amber C

AU - Cribbs, Jennifer E

AU - Deola, Thomas

AU - Dukes, Jeffrey S

AU - Ebeling, Anne

AU - Eisenhauer, Nico

AU - Elwood, Elise C

AU - Fairbanks, Regina A

AU - Forte, T'ai G W

AU - Funk, Flavia A

AU - Gujral, Anjum K

AU - Haugum, Siri V

AU - Hautier, Yann

AU - Henry, Hugh A L

AU - Isbell, Forest

AU - Jentsch, Anke

AU - Jordan, Samuel E

AU - Koerner, Sally E

AU - Kreyling, Juergen

AU - Kröel-Dulay, György

AU - Kulmatiski, Andrew

AU - Lamb, Eric G

AU - Loik, Michael E

AU - Longo, María G

AU - Loydi, Alejandro

AU - MacArthur-Waltz, Dylan J

AU - Milano, Clara

AU - Morgan, John W

AU - Mori, Akira S

AU - Munson, Seth M

AU - Newman, Gregory S

AU - Nielsen, Uffe N

AU - O'Connor, Rory C

AU - Ohlert, Timothy J

AU - Osborne, Brooke B

AU - Otfinowski, Rafael

AU - Pärtel, Meelis

AU - Peri, Pablo L

AU - Peter, Guadalupe

AU - Petraglia, Alessandro

AU - Piñeiro-Guerra, Juan M

AU - Ploughe, Laura W

AU - Portales-Reyes, Cristy

AU - Power, Sally A

AU - Prober, Suzanne M

AU - Pueyo, Yolanda

AU - Roscher, Christiane

AU - Santos, Bráulio A

AU - Smith, Melinda D

AU - Souza, Lara A

AU - Stampfli, Andreas

AU - Standish, Rachel J

AU - Sünnemann, Marie

AU - Tedder, Michelle J

AU - Thorvaldsen, Pål

AU - Tielbörger, Katja

AU - Valdecantos, Alejandro

AU - van den Brink, Liesbeth

AU - Vandvik, Vigdis

AU - Velle, Liv G

AU - Williams, Jennifer L

AU - Wolf, Amelia A

AU - Yahdjian, Laura

AU - Young, Alyssa L

AU - Zeberio, Juan M

AU - Zeiter, Michaela

AU - Phillips, Richard P

AU - Funk, Jennifer L

PY - 2026/2/11

Y1 - 2026/2/11

N2 - Increased climate variability is expected to intensify short-term drought events. Plants have evolved stress tolerance strategies involving trade-offs in resource conservation, mycorrhizal collaboration and plant size, yet how these strategies promote drought resistance across different herbaceous plant groups remains unknown. Leveraging 63 globally distributed grassland and shrubland sites from the International Drought Experiment, we identified plant traits linked to drought resistance in 661 populations of 421 species after 1 year of extreme drought. We assessed how traits, site precipitation and drought severity affected cover change across growth forms and lifespans, and how trait-environment interactions influenced drought resistance. Across all species, leaf N (an acquisitive trait) was associated with drought resistance, whereas in forbs, drought resistance was also associated with a conservative root trait and plant size. In addition, interactions among traits mediated drought resistance; root traits predicted performance only in concert with other traits. Environmental variables influenced trait effects on drought resistance, notably for annuals in wetter sites, suggesting that drought-escape strategies in annuals may be advantageous only under mild stress. Our study highlights variability in traits that predict drought resistance across herbaceous plant groups, emphasizing the importance of species context, environmental stress and the selection of traits in research and management.

AB - Increased climate variability is expected to intensify short-term drought events. Plants have evolved stress tolerance strategies involving trade-offs in resource conservation, mycorrhizal collaboration and plant size, yet how these strategies promote drought resistance across different herbaceous plant groups remains unknown. Leveraging 63 globally distributed grassland and shrubland sites from the International Drought Experiment, we identified plant traits linked to drought resistance in 661 populations of 421 species after 1 year of extreme drought. We assessed how traits, site precipitation and drought severity affected cover change across growth forms and lifespans, and how trait-environment interactions influenced drought resistance. Across all species, leaf N (an acquisitive trait) was associated with drought resistance, whereas in forbs, drought resistance was also associated with a conservative root trait and plant size. In addition, interactions among traits mediated drought resistance; root traits predicted performance only in concert with other traits. Environmental variables influenced trait effects on drought resistance, notably for annuals in wetter sites, suggesting that drought-escape strategies in annuals may be advantageous only under mild stress. Our study highlights variability in traits that predict drought resistance across herbaceous plant groups, emphasizing the importance of species context, environmental stress and the selection of traits in research and management.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105030111631

U2 - 10.1038/s41559-026-02989-4

DO - 10.1038/s41559-026-02989-4

M3 - Article

C2 - 41673298

SN - 2397-334X

JO - Nature Ecology & Evolution

JF - Nature Ecology & Evolution

ER -

Growth form and lifespan of herbaceous species mediate the role of traits in short-term drought response

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

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