Bison (Bison bison) once shaped prairie ecosystems across the Great Plains, but widespread slaughter during European settlement brought them to near extinction. Today, efforts to restore bison also require restoring the diverse and resilient grasslands they depend on. New research is using plant functional traits to identify native plant species that can withstand drought while providing suitable forage for bison, helping develop seed mixes for grassland restoration in Colorado. Learn more about this research and how it could support the return of bison and healthier prairie ecosystems in a new blog by RCAP student Sam Ahler.