Dry Prairie is moderately vulnerable to climate change (when evaluated in low to high climate change emissions scenarios). Many of the dominant species of a Dry Prairie natural community are well-adapted to warmer temperatures and drought. Although threat of drought is projected to increase, plants adapted to growing on infertile soils exhibit tolerance to drought; drought tolerance may be lesser on sandstone-derived soils than on sites underlain by dolomite. This drought tolerance may also help native prairie plants compete with invaders. . Dry Prairie systems are dependent upon wildfire. Earlier and potentially wetter springs combined with warmer seasonal temperatures could reduce opportunities for prescribed burning treatments. Conversely, long term trends toward warmer conditions may actually increase opportunities for prescribed burning, although warmer, drier conditions may have an associated increase in fuel volatility later in the growing season. The threat of woody species invasion due to lack of fire may be exacerbated by carbon dioxide enrichment and nitrogen deposition. Non-native invasives may also get a boost from brush invasion (shades out natives, creates cool moist microclimate), increasing carbon dioxide, longer growing seasons, and milder winters. Prairie plants may retain a competitive edge over invasives, although non-native invasives may benefit from more favorable growing conditions as growing seasons become longer and winter snowpack is reduced. Sites with higher floral diversity that occur within a larger open landscape may fare best: plants may shift locations and composition may fluctuate over time based on responses to climatic variables. Prairie remnants that are isolated and that have lower diversity may be the most vulnerable.