Plant-Animal Interactions: Exploring Costs and Benefits in Highly Conditional Relationships

Interactions between animals and plants exist on a spectrum that ranges from completely antagonistic relationships to those of obligatory mutualism, as seen in the pollination of certain tropical orchid species. In fact, these relationships are highly conditional and can change radically depending on variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, rainfall, and fluctuations in the populations of other interacting species. This Special Issue, entitled "Plant-Animal Interactions: Exploring Costs and Benefits of Highly Conditional Relationships", focuses on mutualistic interactions between animals and plants. It aims to provide a better understanding of ecological relationships by highlighting both the benefits and costs involved.