The primary role of ecological interactions in evolution involves shaping the adaptive strategies of organisms within their environments. These interactions, including predation, competition, and mutualism, create selective pressures that influence which traits are favored. Over time, these pressures can lead to changes in gene frequencies, resulting in adaptations that enhance species survival and reproduction. Consequently, ecological interactions contribute to the process of speciation, where new species emerge as populations adapt to their unique ecological niches. Hence, these interactions are fundamental drivers of the evolutionary process.