Modeling the responses of grassland vegetation coverage to grazing disturbance in an alpine meadow

► A new consumption function was used to relate cover change to overgrazing. ► A model was developed to describe the change of coverage with overgrazing. ► Positive impact of grazing on coverage of grassland was discussed. ► The influence of spatial and temporal heterogeneity of grazing was studied. ► Suggestions for management based on the case study were obtained.