Hello Lawrencia; The understanding of biological interactions is that more interactions and more kinds of interactions are strongly correlated with greater species diversity. Pollenators and their plants, Eliasomes and their ants, nectar-feeders and their host plants, ants and their acacias, fruits and their dispersers...the potential list is a very long one. To the extent that these interactions are obligate ones, each single interaction equates to at least two species in the system. None of these species have only the one interaction and so those two species participate in yet more interactions with yet more other species. You can see that the species list might grow quickly.

Best regards, Jim Des Lauriers

Mutualistic interactions help to maintain biodiversity. For example, large fruited native trees in New Zealand are dependent on native pigeons for seed dispersal. Depletion of either will result in loss of the other :)

Plant-animal interactions play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity. Animals pollinate plants, disperse seeds, and help in nutrient cycling, thus supporting plant diversity. In return, plants provide food, shelter, and habitat for animals. This mutual dependence enhances ecosystem resilience and stability, ultimately contributing to overall biodiversity.