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.