Week 9 - Social Network

     This week, I have studied how plants are capable of communication within their communities. I am using figurative language to express this communication, in terms of linguistics. Plants do not have mounts for which to speak, of course. However, they are capable of "talking" with one another, in close proximity. The terms "talking, or conversating, or dialogue" I use in my report, are interchangeable with the concept of exchanging information.

     In a great book by Peter Wohlleben, called The Hidden Life of Trees, plant communication is thoroughly discussed. In chapter 3 Wohlleben writes about a discovery made by students at the Institute of Environmental Research at RWTH Aachen while studying beech forests. It was found that the trees in the forest linked their root systems together so that every tree was connected. Once the connection was established the trees would equalize development, by giving nutrients to the trees which were lacking, from the trees that were thriving. This created consistent growth throughout the entire forest. It is fascinating to think that trees care for on another! Wohlleben depicts this phenomenon by comparing it to how a social security system operates to "ensure no one member of society is forgotten". The next example he gives is one of the more incredible things I have found within my study thus far. When Wohlleben was working as a forester he would girdle the "young trees", which simply means they would be cut down to stumps, without leaves to allow more sunlight to reach the surrounding trees. Over time he noticed some of these deadwoods thriving. How could this be? They have no leaves to photosynthesis, being unable to produce food. Where was their nutrients coming from? The surrounding trees! They were nourishing the stumps with their own supply, via their root systems. In this way,  plants "talk" about what they need, and what they can give. I imagine it as one of those telephones we made as kids with the plastic cup and string. The roots are the string and they transmit a dialogue. I am amazed at nature, goodness I love it!

    So now I ask myself, how does this root system actually work? Well, fungi make this great system possible. Mycorrhizal fungi is the term used for the type of fungi used in connecting plants. They are the extra supply of surface area that connects the plants. It is kind of like, in Spiderman when Peter shoots his webs from his finger to reach across the room to capture a bad guy. The webs extend his reach. In this process fungi threads will penetrate the root hairs, and "allow the [root] web to to roam through the surrounding forest floor." Plants are not fungi specific, they can mingle with many different species. However, fungi can be picky and only like to link up with specific species of plants. "Host specific" fungi only like certain tress like birches or larches. Chanterelles fungi are less particular and will get along with many more plants. 

    Now we have learned how plants sense touch, light, and can communicate. I am in awe. The intricacies of our universe astounding. 

Sources :

Hidden Life of Trees

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v88gbtKBTv4