by 
The Curious Bag
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Plants and animals of an ecosystem are mutually dependent upon one another in order to exist. The relationships between them create a state of equilibrium within the ecosystem. The connections between these living elements are interconnected. More often than not, there is not a single pathway between organisms. Plants and animals both will use a variety of resources to meet their ecological needs.
Pollination
Many animals such as bats and hummingbirds act as pollinators for plants, allowing plants to go into flower and reproduce.
Seed Dispersal
Plants depend upon animals for genetic viability by dispersing seeds to different environments thus adding variability to the gene pool.
Growth
Prairie ecosystems evolved through the interaction of bison and prairie grasses, helping the grasses to dominate in these ecosystems.
Nutrient Cycling
Animals contribute to nutrient cycling within the ecosystem making nutrients available to plants through their waste products.
Carbon Dioxide
Animals provide one source of atmospheric carbon dioxide, an essential ingredient in photosynthesis, the process by which plants make food and energy.
Source:
U.S. Forest Service: Animal Pollination
Illinois Prairie: Past and Future: A Restoration Guide; W.E. McLain; 1986
Ecology and Field Biology; Robert Leo Smith; 1990
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