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Droughts have increased in both frequency and severity over the last century and pose threats to the productivity and functioning of rangeland ecosystems. Understanding how plants within these communities will respond to drought is a pressing concern if we are to be able to make informed decisions about how we are to manage these ecosystems in the coming decades. We made measurements on 10 common forbs and shrubs in a northern mixed prairie in order to better understand the water-use strategies of these species during a growing season. The species selected were growing in a northern mixed prairie managed by the ARS: High Plains Grasslands Research Station near Cheyenne, WY. The hydraulic conductance of leaves (KLeaf) quantifies the rate at which water can be supplied to leaves, which is fundamental process in the growth and survival of plants. Using these measurements, we estimated the sensitivity of plants to drought by monitoring the reduction in KLeaf as leaf water potential declined (indicating greater water stress). In addition to KLeaf, we measured photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and mid-day leaf water potential to drought to quantify different water-use strategies and drought tolerance thresholds of plants. We will discuss how an understanding of these different water-use strategies can provide estimates of drought tolerance thresholds in plants and help inform predictions of changes in plant community in response to more frequent and severe drought.