Grassland plant communities from around the world have been shown to shift with chronic, long-term increases in nutrient availability.  However, the underlying mechanisms driving some species to increase in abundance, while others decline, remain an open question.  Inter- and intraspecific variation in plant functional traits may be determinants of which species are positively vs negatively impacted by global change.  For example, we have found that plant species with traits associated with fast growth, such as higher specific leaf area, are promoted under conditions of chronic increases in nutrient availability.  Additionally, species that increase in abundance with nutrient additions exhibit a greater ability to shift in their trait expression under elevated nutrient conditions.  These results can aid in prediction of future community shifts in response to altered nutrient availability.