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Despite the global importance of tropical C4 vegetation, we understand little about how it will contribute to the biosphere’s response to rising atmospheric CO2 (Nowak et al. 2004; Ainsworth and Long 2005).  Plants with the C4 photosynthetic pathway account for about 23% of global gross primary productivity, largely in tropical grasslands and savannas (Still et al. 2003). These ecosystems cover about one sixth of the planet’s land surface, are primarily used for extensive livestock production, and support over 400 million people who are amongst the world’s poorest and most vulnerable to climate change (White et al. 2000; Still et al. 2003; IPCC 2007). These regions are also rich in biodiversity (e.g., ungulates in African savannas, and vegetation of the South American Cerrado savannas). ...