Why can honey mesquite spread when cattle overgraze grasslands in the southwestern United States?

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desertification Young trees planted to hinder sandstorms and reverse desertification in the Xihu preservation area of the Gobi Desert, near Dunhuang, China.

In the southwestern United States, honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) can significantly expand its range when cattle overgraze grasslands because of the way livestock alter the composition of plant communities.12

Cattle grazing pressure is primarily directed at grasses and other edible species, which weakens these plants and inhibits their growth. By consuming these preferred plants while leaving inedible species alone, livestock provide a competitive advantage to shrubs like honey mesquite. Once established, these extensive thickets of mesquite create a persistent plant community that often prevents grasses from recolonizing their former range.12