The Marvellous Memory of Trees
How Forests Communicate
Have you ever considered that the towering trees in the forest might have a secret life hidden from plain sight? In this article, we’ll uncover the intriguing realm of tree communication.
Imagine you’re walking through a forest with friends. You might be chatting, taking photos, or just enjoying the serene surroundings. But what if I told you that the trees around you were having a conversation of their own, hidden from your ears?
Beyond their serene exteriors, trees engage in a complex network of interactions, facilitated by underground fungi called mycorrhizae. From nutrient sharing to alerting neighbors of impending threats, trees demonstrate a remarkable capacity for cooperation that extends far beyond what meets the eye.
But how do trees communicate through these subterranean channels?
The Language of Survival
Imagine a tree in the forest detects the presence of voracious insects devouring its leaves. It can’t run away or shout for help, but it can send out chemical signals through its roots into the mycorrhizal network. Nearby trees pick up on these signals, triggering them to produce natural defenses. It’s a sophisticated early warning system, akin to a community watch program for the forest.
Sharing the Wealth
Just as neighbors might lend a cup of sugar or a helping hand, trees also share resources. If one tree has an abundance of nutrients, it can allocate some to its neighbors through the mycorrhizal network. This resource-sharing ensures the entire forest remains healthy and resilient, even in times of scarcity.
Passing Down Knowledge
In the forest, older trees play a crucial role in nurturing the younger generation. They provide guidance and support through the fungal network, much like experienced mentors offering valuable advice to newcomers. This wisdom transfer promotes the forest’s long-term vitality.
Approximately 40 years ago, key papers indicating that volatile chemicals released by damaged plants elicited defense-related changes in their neighbors, brought prominence to the idea of plant communication. These studies were conducted with several tree species and the phenomenon observed was dubbed “talking trees.”
Recent Research
Today there is a wealth of evidence supporting the idea that plants can send and receive information both above and below ground. However, while early reports of plant-plant communication concerned trees, the literature is now heavily biased towards herbaceous plants.
So, the next time you find yourself in a forest, pause to consider the vibrant conversations happening beneath your feet.
What may appear as solitary giants are, in fact, active participants in an intricate dialogue — a dialogue that speaks to the resilience, cooperation, and wonder of the natural world.
The forest, it turns out, is not just a collection of trees;
it’s a community where every member contributes to a greater whole, embodying the spirit of interconnectedness.
Rasheed, Muhammad Usman & Brosset, Agnès & Blande, James. (2022). Tree Communication: The Effects of “Wired” and “Wireless” Channels on Interactions with Herbivores. Current Forestry Reports. 9. 10.1007/s40725–022–00177–8.
