Laura Smith
The idea that trees can communicate with each other has captured the public imagination, with the concept of a wood-wide web featuring in popular media. This idea suggests that trees can talk and share resources through a network of underground fungi, with older mother trees nurturing seedlings. While the existence of mycorrhizal networks connecting trees is well-established, there is ongoing scientific debate about the extent and nature of tree-to-tree communication and cooperation. Some studies suggest that trees can send distress signals and share nutrients through these networks, while others argue that the evidence for tree cooperation is not as strong as often portrayed in popular culture. Additionally, while mushrooms are known to communicate using electrical impulses, the interpretation of these impulses as a form of language remains speculative.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Trees and mushrooms talk to each other | Unproven |
| Mushrooms are the fruit of | Mycorrhizal network fungus |
| Mycorrhizal networks | Facilitate tree cooperation |
| Mycorrhizal networks | Are delicate and can be destroyed by digging up a root |
| Mycorrhizal networks | Are ephemeral |
| Mycorrhizal networks | Are essential for the growth and survival of trees |
| Mycorrhizal networks | Are not widespread in forests |
| Mycorrhizal networks | Do not necessarily facilitate the flow of resources to seedlings |
| Mycorrhizal networks | Do not send warning signals of insect damage to young trees |
| Trees | Send chemical, hormonal and slow-pulsing electrical signals |
| Trees | Have a sense of smell and taste |
| Trees | Can detect scents through their leaves |
| Trees | Can detect sounds, especially a crackling noise in the roots at a frequency of 220 hertz |
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What You'll Learn
- Trees communicate through chemical, hormonal and electrical signals
- Trees have a sense of smell and taste
- The concept of trees 'talking' has been popularised by media and literature
- Mushrooms are the fruit of the mycorrhizal network fungus
- There is limited evidence of trees communicating through a fungal network
Trees communicate through chemical, hormonal and electrical signals
The idea that trees communicate with each other has captivated the popular imagination. The concept of a "wood-wide web" where trees share resources and protect their seedlings is intriguing but has not been proven. While the presence of mycorrhizal networks connecting trees through fungi is established, the extent of their role in facilitating tree cooperation is debated.
Trees do communicate through chemical, hormonal, and electrical signals. When injured, trees emit distress signals in the form of ethylene gas, which neighboring trees detect and respond to by pumping tannins into their leaves. This response can sicken or even kill large herbivores like giraffes, demonstrating the protective function of these chemical signals. Trees also communicate through pheromones and other scent signals, as well as through the roots.
Trees have been observed to send nutrients through their roots to support struggling trees. This is particularly crucial for young saplings in shaded areas of the forest, which rely on nutrients and sugar from older trees to survive. The presence of "mother trees" or "hub trees" has been identified, with larger, older trees providing vital resources and acting as a defense mechanism for younger trees.
Additionally, trees generate electrical signals when wounded, similar to how human tissue reacts to injury. These electrical pulses have been studied by Edward Farmer at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, who identified a voltage-based signaling system resembling animal nervous systems. Trees do not possess neurons or brains, but they can sense and experience something akin to pain.
While the specific intentions and complexities of tree communication are still being deciphered, it is evident that trees communicate through chemical, hormonal, and electrical signals, challenging the notion that their interactions are entirely selfish and opportunistic.
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Trees have a sense of smell and taste
While the idea of trees as sensory beings may seem odd, trees do have a sense of smell and taste. Senses are extremely important to all plants, especially those that are constantly rooted in one spot, like trees.
Trees have to eat, escape predatory insects, and know how to shelter from storms or fires. To survive, trees have developed real senses to cope with the harsh world around them. Trees can smell ripening fruit, which emits ethylene in large amounts, and then they respond by ripening too. They also have receptors that respond to chemicals. For example, terpenes and terpenoids are organic compounds produced by a variety of plants, including trees, and many of these compounds carry strong odors. Some scents attract pollinators, while others are defensive, meant to deter pests and attract the predators of those pests. Terpene production increases in heat, suggesting that terpenes play a role in temperature regulation in forests.
Trees also have a sense of taste. When trees or plants are attacked by insects or bacteria, they emanate a chemical response, including a gas called methyl jasmonate. This chemical is a taste chemical, and while it is not very effective as an airborne deterrent, it gets converted into soluble water jasmonic acid when it diffuses through the stomata, the pores in the surface of leaves. Trees in the vicinity of caterpillar-infested ones were resistant to pests because their leaves had produced a chemical that tasted nasty. The infected trees had sent out an airborne pheromonal message to warn the healthy trees, so they could prepare for an attack.
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The concept of trees 'talking' has been popularised by media and literature
The concept of trees communicating has been a popular topic in media and literature. The idea of trees "talking" to each other through a network of underground fungal filaments, dubbed the "wood-wide web," has captured the imagination of many. This concept has been explored in various forms of media, including books, podcasts, TV shows, and radio programs.
The idea of trees communicating through a fungal network is based on the existence of mycorrhizal networks. These networks are formed when filaments of fungi, called hyphae, intertwine with the roots of trees. This connection allows the transfer of water, nitrogen, carbon, and other minerals between the fungi and the trees. The fungi benefit from this relationship by receiving a steady supply of sugar from the trees.
While the existence of mycorrhizal networks is well-established, the extent and implications of these networks are still being studied and debated. Some scientists argue that the evidence for mycorrhizal networks facilitating tree cooperation and communication is not as strong as popular belief suggests. They caution that the relationships between trees and fungi are complex and that more research is needed to fully understand their interactions.
Despite the ongoing scientific debate, the concept of trees talking to each other has captured the public's imagination and has been popularized in media and literature. For example, the book "Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest" by University of B and the TED talk "How Trees Talk to Each Other" by Suzanne Simard have both gained widespread attention. Simard's research suggests that trees may exhibit a form of ""swarm intelligence," but some scientists argue that this does not indicate consciousness or intention in trees.
The idea of communicating trees has also been a popular theme in Hollywood movies, such as "The Wizard of Oz," "The Lord of the Rings," and "Avatar." The portrayal of talking trees in these films taps into ancient mythological beliefs about trees possessing prophecy and intelligence. While the scientific community continues to explore the complex relationships between trees and fungi, the popular culture fascination with the idea of trees talking to each other through underground fungal networks is unlikely to fade away anytime soon.
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Mushrooms are the fruit of the mycorrhizal network fungus
The idea that mushrooms are the "fruit" of the mycorrhizal network fungus is based on the concept that mushrooms are the visible part of a larger, underground fungal network. This network, composed of tiny threads called mycelium, intertwines with the roots of trees and facilitates the transfer of water, nutrients, and minerals.
Mycorrhizae are fungi that form symbiotic relationships with the roots of many plants, including trees. In this symbiotic relationship, both the fungus and the plant benefit. The fungus, being unable to photosynthesize, receives carbohydrates from the host plant. In return, the mycorrhizae absorb nutrients from the soil, which are then taken up by the plant. This increases the absorption surface area of the roots, enhancing the uptake of nutrients.
The mycorrhizal network connects individual plants, allowing them to transfer resources such as water, nitrogen, carbon, and minerals. This network is particularly important in the transfer of phosphorus, as most of the phosphorus in the soil is in an insoluble form. By breaking down minerals in the soil, the mycorrhizae make essential nutrients available to the trees.
While the existence of the mycorrhizal network has been established, there is ongoing debate about the extent of its role in tree communication and cooperation. Some researchers argue that the evidence for mycorrhizal networks facilitating tree cooperation is not as strong as popularly believed. They suggest that substances can also be transferred directly from root to root or through pores in the soil. However, studies have verified that substances provided to one tree can be taken up by neighboring trees, indicating the potential for resource sharing through the mycorrhizal network.
The mycorrhizal network is critical to the health and survival of forests. Hub trees, also known as "mother trees," play a crucial role in this network. These older, more seasoned trees have established roots that reach deeper sources of water and nutrients, which they can share with younger saplings through the mycorrhizal network. This network enables trees to detect distress signals from neighboring trees and send them necessary resources, fostering cooperation and survival within the forest ecosystem.
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There is limited evidence of trees communicating through a fungal network
The idea that trees communicate and cooperate through a fungal network, known as a mycorrhizal network, has captured the public imagination. This network is formed by the intertwining of fungal filaments called hyphae with the tips of tree roots. The hyphae break down minerals in the soil that trees can then absorb through their roots, while the fungi receive sugar from the trees.
However, despite the intriguing concept, there is limited evidence of trees communicating through this fungal network. A new analysis published in Nature Ecology & Evolution argues that the evidence for mycorrhizal networks facilitating tree cooperation is not as strong as popularly believed. The study's co-author, Justine Karst, an ecologist at the University of Alberta, clarifies that the relationships between trees and fungi are complex and that suggestive lines of evidence have been over-interpreted. The study found only a handful of studies across two forest types, involving a limited number of tree and fungi species.
The ephemeral nature of fungal networks further complicates the research. As Melanie Jones, a plant biologist at the University of British Columbia and another co-author, explains, fungal connections can be severed, and even genetic sampling may not reveal whether two trees are still connected through the fungal network. This raises questions about the prevalence and longevity of mycorrhizal networks. While it has been verified that substances provided to one tree can be taken up by a neighboring tree, it is unclear if fungi are responsible for this transfer, as resources can also move directly from root to root or through pores in the soil.
Additionally, the research methods used to explore CMN (Common Mycorrhizal Networks) function have their limitations. There is a possibility that resources could be transferred through other pathways, such as through the soil, and that other factors may influence seedling growth and survival. The claim that adult trees send resources or "warning signals" to young trees through CMNs is not supported by peer-reviewed, published field studies. While there is evidence of trees communicating through chemical, hormonal, and electrical signals, the interpretation of these signals is still being deciphered by scientists.
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Frequently asked questions
Trees communicate with each other through a network of fungi. Mushrooms are the fruit of the mycorrhizal network fungus, which connects trees through tiny threads called mycelium. The sugar from the trees fuels the fungi, which in turn collect nutrients and minerals for the trees.
Trees send chemical, hormonal, and slow-pulsing electrical signals through the network. Scientists are just beginning to decipher these signals. Trees have also been observed to have a sense of smell and taste. They can detect scents through their leaves and detect the saliva of leaf-eating caterpillars.
Alarm and distress appear to be the main topics of tree conversation. However, it is unknown if this is all they talk about.
