Although trees are different from us, they communicate in their own way and are part of an intelligent and social cosmos together with fungi and other green species. Plants communicate, protect each other and adapt to each other. Learn how this works in the blog.
An animated nature in which all plants are part of a great whole, exchange, defend, perhaps even feel fear or joy? This is not the Ent-forest in Tolkien's Middle-earth, but any quite normal, relatively natural forest. Researchers like Peter Wohlleben have been drawing attention for years to the fact that plants do communicate - only they do so quite differently from animals or humans. Through the work of biologists, botanists and so-called plant neurologists, it has been proven that the WWW of trees, the Wood Wide Web, does indeed exist and is comparable to the internet, also in terms of its complexity. Trees warn each other of danger, engage in "brood care" and are even able to communicate with animals.
The root brain of trees
Charles Darwin already compared the roots of plants and especially the sensitive root tips to the brains of lower creatures and spoke of the powerful mobility of plants. Current research proves him right. Deep underground, roots collect information that is passed on to the leaves high above - for example in the case of drought. The tree will "shut down" at least part of the foliage to cope with the lack of water. Conversely, the leaves signal the weather high up to the root system, and provide the roots with nutrients in the form of sugar thanks to the process of photosynthesis.
How trees talk to each other
The ability of the root tips to perceive was first demonstrated by the Canadian forest scientist Suzanne Simard and confirmed by the cell biologist Frantisek Baluska from Bonn. However, the roots are not content to hold monologues with their own leaf canopy - trees are also in contact with each other via the network of roots. In this way, they recognise when a conspecific is growing in their vicinity, and both trees coordinate their growth so as not to get in each other's way. A tree also recognises shoots from its own seeds and provides them with nutrients. Apart from their own roots, fungi are the main mediators.
Information exchange on the mycelium of forest mushrooms
The fungal bodies that become visible above the ground are only a small part of the fungus. Underground runs the network of the mycelium, which can reach an extension of hundreds of metres. The mycelium is the information carrier of the forest, tree and fungus both benefit from the transmission of impulses. The tree supplies mushrooms with sugar, while the mushroom prepares nutrients from the soil for the tree, which the plant would not have access to on its own, or only with difficulty. Scientists also have Suzanne Simard to thank for proving that this nutrient transfer takes place and to what extent - using radioactive carbon particles, the researcher was able to demonstrate the extent as well as the fact that even non-species-specific trees benefit from it.
Managing predators - with plant poisons and attractants
It is now also known that plants not only "talk" to other plants, but also interact with animals - they react quickly and often surprisingly effectively, especially to frassing pests. The increased production of their own toxins can even be the undoing of large mammals if an otherwise "edible" tree finds itself unduly threatened. Plants also defend themselves against caterpillars. For example, oaks send signals to trees in their neighbourhood when they are attacked by the caterpillars of the processionary moth, and wild tobacco cranks up its nicotine content. The tobacco plant can even attract beneficial insects like lizards when the caterpillars cannot be controlled otherwise. As the director of the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Ian Baldwin, found out, the tobacco plant recognises who it is dealing with by the caterpillars' saliva.
Forests in documentary film - anything but extras
Documentary films Documentary films vividly convey how well the forest's communication network functions - and at the same time illustrate the damage caused by monocultures. A commercial forest is a monoculture that lacks the complex network of the Wood Wide Web. It lacks the mutual protection and the supply of vital nutrients, but also light and water that trees, even those of different species, share with each other. Moreover, the view of the secrets of the forest succeeds from a perspective that is unusual for us - namely that of the plants themselves.
We are also connected to trees! Find out now when the next NIKIN TreePlantingDay is and get to know our forest commitment better.
