Overcompensation of plants in response to herbivory and the by-product benefits of mutualism

Plants that overcompensate for herbivory are relatively healthier when dama ged. In this mutualistic association, the herbivore benefits from the plant , and the plant benefits from the herbivore's actions. As long as the benef it to the plant outweighs the costs imposed by browsing herbivores, this in teraction should remain stable. Many apparently parasitic associations can be mutually beneficial under some environmental conditions.