Trees Communicate Underground
Trees interact through complex networks, often called the 'Wood Wide Web'. They use fungal networks in soil, known as mycorrhizae, to exchange nutrients, information, and even warn each other of potential threats.
Chemical Signals Through Air
Trees don't just communicate below ground. They also send distress signals through the air using volatile organic compounds when attacked by pests, alerting neighboring trees to bolster their own defenses by producing protective chemicals.
The Hub Trees or 'Mother Trees'
Older, larger trees, also known as 'mother trees', serve as central hubs in forest communication networks. They support younger trees by sharing nutrients and can even reduce their root competition to make room for their offspring.
Seasonal Communication Patterns
Tree communication isn't constant but varies with the seasons. During spring and summer, the networks are more active. Trees exchange more nutrients and communicate more frequently to maximize growth and survival.
Networks Improve Forest Resilience
Communication networks make forests more resilient to environmental stresses. Trees in a well-connected forest are more likely to survive drought, disease, and pest infestations than those in isolated or less connected environments.
Trees Influence Their Microclimate
Forests can alter their own microclimate through communication networks. By managing water and nutrient distribution, trees can affect humidity levels and temperature, creating a more favorable environment for the entire ecosystem.
Human Impact on Tree Networks
Logging, urbanization, and climate change disrupt these vital networks. The loss of hub trees and the mycorrhizal networks diminishes forest communication, potentially leading to poorer forest health and reduced biodiversity.
What networks do trees use underground?
Root extension systems
Mycorrhizal networks
Subterranean stem links
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