# Plateau pika control degrades grasslands while grazing exclusion provides no habitat improvement

## TL;DR

Controlling plateau pikas and fencing grasslands does not improve habitat quality in the long term, suggesting a need for better management strategies.

## Contribution

This study reveals that long-term pika control and fencing fail to sustainably improve grassland stability or richness.

## Key findings

- Pika suppression weakens grassland stability over time.
- Fencing provides no lasting improvement in grassland structure or function.
- Short-term gains in plant richness and biomass return to baseline within 8–10 years.

## Abstract

Plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) control and fencing are primary strategies to combat grassland degradation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. We analyzed 14 years of monitoring data from 1,460 plots across 22 ecoregions to evaluate these interventions. Structural equation modeling revealed that pika suppression exerted a weak indirect negative effect on grassland stability. Neither prolonged pika control nor fencing induced significant overall improvements. While certain grazing regimes initially increased plant richness of both palatable and non-palatable grasses (+18.7%) and non-palatable biomass (+27.4%), these gains diminished after 8–10 years, returning to baseline levels. These findings demonstrate that indiscriminate plateau pika control compromises habitat quality without lasting benefits, and large-scale fencing fails to significantly improve grassland richness or stability. Our results suggest that current reliance on singular interventions is suboptimal, highlighting the need for more integrated and ecologically adaptive management approaches.

•14-year study shows pika control and fencing fail to enhance alpine meadow stability•Pika suppression weakens grassland stability, challenging indiscriminate eradication policies•Fencing shows no long-term improvement in grassland structure or function•Short-term richness and biomass gains decay to baseline within 8–10 years

14-year study shows pika control and fencing fail to enhance alpine meadow stability

Pika suppression weakens grassland stability, challenging indiscriminate eradication policies

Fencing shows no long-term improvement in grassland structure or function

Short-term richness and biomass gains decay to baseline within 8–10 years

Environmental science; Environmental management; Agricultural science