Interaction of Plants & Animals

Food

• The most common interaction between plants and animals is herbivory, where animals eat plants. Since this interaction is highly detrimental to the plant, plants have evolved a variety of defenses to protect themselves against herbivory, ranging from toxins to sharp spines.

Reproduction

• Many plants have evolved reproductive strategies that involve animals. Animals, especially insects, feed on the nectar from their flowers, transferring pollen from one flower to another. Seeds from many species of plants are often dispersed by animals who eat the fruit or store seeds for later retrieval, helping to avoid competition between a child plant and its parent for resources.

Shelter

• Plants form an important source of shelter for many animals. For example, birds build their nests in trees to protect their young from predators.

Mutualism

• The relationship between some species of acacia trees and their resident ants is more complex. The ants attack insects or plants that come into contact with the tree, while the tree provides the ants with food in the form of nectar and shelter in its swollen thorns. This relationship is an example of mutualism, a species interaction where both parties benefit.