These are the most populous animals on the grassland and are responsible for very important ecological functions. For example, not only are they necessary prey for many carnivores and meat-eating birds, their burrows in the ground serve as resting places for many bird species. While some have blamed the increased numbers of rodents on the Plateau on the degradation of grassland quality, in fact, the rise in rodent and rabbit numbers is the combined result of vegetation degradation and other factors, including a reduction in predator numbers.