Grass functional traits reflect the long history of fire and grazers in the savannas of Texas

Our findings confirm that the flammability-palatability trade-offs that operate in Africa also explain correlated suites of traits in Texas grasses and highlights that the grass flora of Texas bears the signature of Pleistocene megafauna and the influence of fires that predate human arrival. We suggest that grass functional classifications based on fire and grazer traits can improve prescribed fire and livestock management of savannas of Texas and globally.