Abstract

Ecosystems function in a series of feedback loops that can change or maintain vegetation structure. Vegetation structure influences the ecological niche space available for animals to partition, shaping many aspects of behavior and reproduction. In turn, animals perform ecological functions that shape vegetation structure. However, most studies concerning 3D vegetation structure consider only one of these relationships. Here, we review these separate lines of research and integrate them into a single concept that describes a feedback mechanism. We also show how remote sensing and animal tracking technologies are now available at the global scale to describe feedback loops and their consequences for ecosystem functioning. An improved understanding of how animals interact with vegetation structure in feedback loops is needed to conserve ecosystems that face major disruptions in response to climate and land use change.