Herbivory

Herbivory is the process by which plant-eating animals, such as deer, consume and digest plant material. It is a key driver of global biodiversity and is a major factor in controlling plant populations. Herbivory is also an important part of food webs and nutrient cycles, as it helps to cycle nutrients from dead plants back into the ecosystem as both energy and food for other organisms. Even humans benefit from herbivory, as it increases the availability of crop plants for human use. Herbivory is an essential part of a healthy and balanced ecosystem.