Did you know trees actually communicate through underground fungal networks?

Question

Accepted Answer

The Wood Wide Web: A Marvel of Nature

Yes, this fascinating phenomenon is known as the mycorrhizal network. Trees form symbiotic relationships with fungi to exchange resources and information beneath the soil.

Resource Sharing: Larger trees, often called 'mother trees', provide sugar to younger saplings that struggle to reach sunlight.
   Defense Signals: If a tree is under attack by pests, it can send chemical distress signals through these fungal pathways to warn nearby trees, allowing them to produce protective compounds.

Why This Matters

This intricate biological infrastructure highlights that a forest is not just a collection of individuals, but a cooperative community. This discovery has fundamentally changed how scientists understand ecological resilience, proving that forests rely on complex, interconnected subterranean systems to survive and thrive across generations in diverse environments.