Small mammalian herbivores at moderate densities facilitate livestock growth by improving vegetation composition in grasslands
Zhiwei Zhong, Bingbo Ni, Douglas Lawton, Xiaofei Li, Xiaona Zheng, Huakun Zhou, Junhu Su, Wenjin Li, Fujiang Hou, Zhenggang Guo, Quanmin Dong, Shikui Dong, Christopher R. Dickman, Jens‐Christian Svenning, Ying Gao, Zhibin Zhang
The paper shows that moderate densities of plateau pikas improve vegetation composition, which enhances yak weight gain by reducing toxic forbs and increasing palatable plant abundance.
bioRxiv · Jun 23, 2026 · PreprintEcology