Can trees really communicate with each other through soil?

Question

Accepted Answer

The Underground Social Network

Yes, trees engage in a sophisticated form of communication using an underground biological network often referred to as the Wood Wide Web. This complex system relies on mycorrhizal fungi, which form symbiotic relationships with tree roots.

How It Works

Resource Exchange: Fungi connect different trees, allowing the transfer of essential nutrients like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus between neighbors.
   Warning Signals: Trees release chemical signals through these fungal threads when attacked by pests, alerting nearby trees to initiate their own defensive chemical responses.
   Resource Distribution: Older, larger trees often called Mother Trees utilize these networks to support younger saplings in shaded areas by providing them with extra sugar and nutrients.

This incredible process transforms the forest into a collaborative community rather than just a collection of competing individuals. This discovery has fundamentally changed how scientists view ecosystem stability and forest management.