Beef Advocacy Practice Test

Overgrazing has significant detrimental impacts on the environment, which is why the selected answer is correct. Overgrazing occurs when livestock graze on vegetation beyond its natural recovery capacity, leading to various negative consequences.

One of the primary effects of overgrazing is soil erosion. When plants are removed, the soil becomes exposed and vulnerable to erosion by wind and water. This loss of topsoil can significantly affect land fertility and lead to desertification in severe cases.

Additionally, overgrazing reduces plant cover, which impairs the land's ability to recover and leads to species decline. As the vegetation diminishes, the habitats for various wildlife species also disappear, contributing to a loss in biodiversity. This can disrupt local ecosystems and lead to imbalances, as certain species may become overabundant while others decline or disappear entirely.

The other options misconstrue the effects of overgrazing. Enhanced soil quality and increased plant cover would describe a healthy grazing practice rather than the consequences of overgrazing. Maintaining balance in local ecosystems is an essential role healthy grazing can play, but overgrazing disrupts this balance. Finally, asserting that overgrazing has no significant environmental impact overlooks the substantial evidence of its negative