Forests: Exploring the Complex Social Networks of Nature

Forests are so much more than a large cluster of trees; they're an interconnected ecosystem. We humans aren't the only ones who communicate with each other; living beings have ways of sending out signals to one another, often in ways we don't notice. This phenomenon isn't a fairy tale; it has been studied and backed by scientists worldwide.

The Science of Forests

Trees in the forest have ways of communicating with each other just like humans do.Photo bySebastian UnrauonUnsplash

The science of forestry is so complex that there is still so much we don't know. What we do know and have learned in recent years is that trees, indeed, communicate with each other as sentient beings. Of course, they don't "talk," like humans do, but they have a system to send signals to other trees. For example, in boreal forests, trees will send distress signals when being attacked by caterpillars. The signal is in the form of a chemical detected by the other trees in the surrounding area, and in turn, the warned trees can produce a bitter-tasting chemical compound on their sap to ward off caterpillar infestations.

Dr Susan Simard of British Columbia University has been a pioneer in the study of tree communication. She observed that forest communication goes deeper than just tree communication, literally. She and her research team discovered that trees and an extensive underground network of fungi shared a synergistic relationship. Mycelium fungus spreads throughout the forest floor and sends signals to each tree, like its own internet. This system of fungal filament is called mycorrhizal network.

Dr. Simard's discoveries have been so ground-breaking that her work has been published in over 200 peer-reviewed articles, multiple documentary films, and a TED talk. Her work has even influenced art and pop culture, inspiring James Cameron to create the first Avatar film featuring the Tree of Souls.

Tree Social Statuses

According to Dr. Simard, trees even have a social hierarchy. The larger, older trees in a forest grove are called "mother" trees. There have been cases where these mother trees have been cut down or blown down in a storm, only to have the surrounding trees reach their roots to nourish the mother tree's remains, trying to keep their matriarch alive. In turn, mother trees have been observed to nourish nearby saplings. Trees in the forest work together to help each other survive in one way or another. This may be why trees grow much better in groups. Much like humans, they don't do well in isolation.

Other Forest Creatures Get Chatty

Forest animals complete the web of communication. Birds have calls that warn each other of danger to themselves and other animals. Trees rely heavily on birds, and birds rely heavily on trees, so it makes sense that they will also communicate with each other. Insect-eating birds can detect the distress chemicals that trees emit when parasitic insects attack a tree. The bird gets a meal, and the tree is rid of parasites. For berry-eating birds, trees know how to attract their aviary friends. The birds eat the berries, and the seeds are deposited throughout the forest.

How a Forest Can Communicate with Us

If a tree suddenly starts conversing with you in our language, that's a sign that you should probably get professional help. Now that we know that a forest system communicates with itself, it begs the question: can a forest communicate with us somehow? Perhaps it can if we listen to it in its own language. Every human on Earth depends on a forest for survival, whether they realize it or not. Forests are crucial to biodiversity, clean air and water, and mitigating climate change. While we depend on forest products, responsible stewardship is the key to our survival.

A Final Word

Even if you live in a large city, your survival depends on a forest somewhere on the planet. We know that trees in a forest are connected by a network of fungi. In turn, animals have a relationship with trees. It's not far-fetched that we should pay attention to what the forest is trying to tell us for our own good.

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Article originally written by Stephanie Grant.