Plants and animals interact in symbiotic relationships in various ways, such as mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism. In mutualism, both the plant and animal benefit from the relationship, such as bees pollinating flowers to help them reproduce and gather nectar for food. In parasitism, one organism benefits at the expense of the other, like certain insects feeding on plant sap. In commensalism, one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed, for example, epiphytic plants growing on trees without affecting them. These interactions are essential for the balance of ecosystems.
