How do trees communicate?

Hi,
You may have heard that trees can talk. So today, we’re going to be looking at how trees talk.

Mycorrhizal network

The mycorrhizal network is a network of trees and other plants all connected by fungi. This creates a symbiotic relationship between the trees and the fungi that grow on their roots. The fungi give the trees nutrients and the trees give the fungi sugars.

Nutrients/Resources

However, trees can also use this fungi network to send each other nutrients and sugars. The most common example of this is that older trees will send sapling sugars because the sapling doesn’t get enough sunlight to photosynthesise. Dying trees will also send all of their nutrients into the network for other trees to use.

Electrical pulses

This is a quite recent discovery. Trees will send electric pulses through the fungi system to warn other trees of droughts, fires, and diseases. Scientists believe that this works similarly to nervous systems in animals however it remains a matter of great interest.

Benefits

As already mentioned, trees can share nutrients and warn each other of danger. Two trees can work together. For instance, if a fir tree and an oak tree are connected, then the fir tree will provide the oak tree with nutrients in winter, and in summer it will be the other way around. This is called Osmosis.

Downsides

Despite being a brilliant system, there are some downsides. Some plants, such as orchids connect to the system just to steal nutrients that were meant for other trees. Some species will send poison through the fungi to kill all surrounding trees and thus receive more nutrients. It is also very fragile. Cutting down trees that are in this system, puts all other trees at risk because they lose their vital sources of nutrients. New research suggests that these systems are also more effected by warming temperatures, making forests less stable as climate change warms the ground and the fungi.

Other communication methods

The mycorrhizal system may be the main way that trees communicate, but it isn’t the only way. The electric pulses can also travel through the air. Trees can smell, so some species let off a specific smell when distressed.

We hope you enjoyed learning about this incredible topic.

Your Green World Blog Team💚

Image:

Whakarewarewa Forest Biking, owned by TheOlsonFive! Olson (on flickr.com) is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Sources:

https://letstalkscience.ca/educational-resources/stem-in-context/talking-trees-how-do-trees-communicate

https://localtreeestimates.com/how-do-trees-communicate/#Osmosis
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/09/230921154458.htm

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