Trees can respond to environmental stimuli—such as drought, pest attacks, or injury—in coordinated ways through underground mycorrhizal networks and airborne chemical signals.
These shared communication channels allow forests to act in symphony, with nearby trees adjusting their behavior (like changing root growth or producing defensive chemicals) in response to signals from affected neighbors.
Key references:
Simard, S. W., et al. (1997). Net transfer of carbon between tree species with shared ectomycorrhizal fungi. Nature, 388(6642), 579–582. https://lnkd.in/gkiWpTn9
Heil, M., & Karban, R. (2010). Explaining evolution of plant communication by airborne signals. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 25(3), 137–144. https://lnkd.in/g-VpBD8E