An ecological interaction where one species makes the environment more suitable for another species, either directly or indirectly. This positive interaction can help with establishment, growth, or survival.
From Latin 'facilis' meaning 'easy' and '-tation' indicating action. In ecology, the term emerged in the 1970s to describe positive species interactions that were often overlooked in favor of competition studies.
Nurse plants are masters of facilitation—desert cacti often start life in the shade of shrubs that protect them from harsh sun and provide nutrients, essentially babysitting them until they're tough enough for desert life!
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