E-Mail IMAGE: At UC San Diego's Biology Field Station, scientists tested California grasses in plots that allowed or excluded the influence of birds, mice, rabbits and other plant consumers. view more Credit: Cleland Lab, UC San Diego For young plants, timing is just about everything. Now, scientists have found that herbivores, animals that consume plants, have a lot to say about evolution at this vulnerable life stage. Once a plant seedling breaches the soil surface and begins to grow, a broad range of factors will determine whether it thrives or perishes. Scientists have long pe...