Scientists kept rabbits out of experimental plots in New Mexico's desert for 50 years; by 1989, one grass had 30 times more basal area in protected plots

Conducted in the arid expanses of New Mexico's Chihuahuan Desert, a pivotal study investigated the impact of rabbit exclusion on local vegetation, primarily focusing on spike dropseed grass. Over the years, researchers documented significant variations in grass growth in relation to animal presence, revealing the challenges of restoring dryland ecosystems.