Grazing animals prevent or control further colonization by other plants primarily through selective feeding and physical disturbance. By preferentially grazing on dominant or fast-growing plant species, they reduce the competitive ability of these plants, which helps maintain botanical diversity and prevents any one species from overtaking the habitat

. This selective grazing creates a mosaic of vegetation structures with patches of short and tall plants, maintaining high species richness and habitat heterogeneity

. Additionally, grazing animals physically disturb the soil and vegetation through trampling, which can inhibit the establishment of some plants while promoting others by creating bare patches suitable for seedling establishment

. Their droppings enrich the soil with nutrients, further influencing plant growth dynamics

. By controlling aggressive or woody species and preventing scrub encroachment, grazing maintains open habitats and the delicate balance of plant communities necessary for biodiversity

. In summary, grazing animals control further plant colonization by:

• Selectively feeding on dominant plants, reducing their competitive advantage.
• Trampling and disturbing soil to create diverse microhabitats.
• Adding nutrients through waste, influencing soil fertility.
• Preventing encroachment of woody or aggressive species, maintaining habitat openness.

This dynamic helps sustain species-rich plant communities and prevents unchecked colonization by certain plants, thereby supporting ecosystem diversity and stability