Plant-animal interaction

Plant-animal interaction is an ecological relationship in which plants and animals affect one another, through processes such as pollination, seed dispersal, herbivory, and defense.

Pollination: The transfer of pollen from an anther to a receptive stigma, enabling fertilization in seed plants. Animals move pollen between flowers while feeding or collecting resources.
Yucca–yucca moth mutualism: A partnership in which yucca moths pollinate yucca flowers and their larvae consume some developing seeds. It demonstrates pollination coupled with a cost to the plant.
Plant–pollinator network: A network describing which plant species are pollinated by which animal species in a community. Many pollination links together form community-wide patterns of dependence.
Parasitism: An interaction in which one organism benefits while harming another. Some plant-animal relationships impose costs rather than reciprocal benefits.
Seed dispersal: The movement of seeds away from their parent plants by animals, wind, water, or other agents. Animals transport seeds after eating fruit or carrying seeds externally.
Fig–fig wasp mutualism: An often species-specific relationship in which fig wasps pollinate figs and reproduce inside their inflorescences. The wasp's life cycle and the fig's reproduction depend on one another.
Trophic cascade: An ecological effect in which changes at one trophic level alter abundance or behavior at other levels. Animal effects on plants can propagate through predators and herbivores.
Commensalism: An interaction in which one species benefits and the other experiences no measurable effect. Animal use of plants may benefit the animal without affecting the plant appreciably.
Herbivory: The consumption of living plant tissues by animals. Feeding links animals to plants through damage, food acquisition, and plant defenses.
Acacia–ant mutualism: A partnership in which some acacias provide ants with food and shelter, while ants defend the plants. It links plant-provided resources to animal protection against herbivores.

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