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If you're interested in this subject, Peter Wohlleben published a book in 2015 called The Hidden Life of Trees, What They Feel, How They Communicate. One excerp

If you're interested in this subject, Peter Wohlleben published a book in 2015 called The Hidden Life of Trees, What They Feel, How They Communicate. One excerpt from the book relevant to this article: "The fungus not only penetrates and envelops the tree's roots, but also allows its web to roam through the surrounding forest floor. In so doing, it extends the reach of the tree's own roots as the web grows out toward other trees. Here, it connects with other trees' fungal partners and roots. And so a network is created, and now it's easy for the trees to exchange vital nutrients and even information--such as an impending insect attack" (51). I look at groups of trees, and trees in general, very differently than I had before I read this book. I'm happy to see this Yale article make it to HN.

dmix 9y ago
Do you know how far from the tree do these network travel? Do the other trees it 'communicates' with have to be right next to it or can they be some distance? As someone who has a passing interest in mycology I find this as much interesting in how important fungi is to the world as are trees. It has many proponents who believe fungi doesn't get enough credit for fueling the world's ecology as plants and trees. Possibly due to mushrooms perception as being harmful to humans. Thanks for the book recommendation (Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Life-Trees-Communicate-Discoveries/dp/1771642483 https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Life-Trees-Communicate-Discove...).
- gehwartzen 9y ago
  Yeah, I was just thinking how some of our seemingly established forestry principles of thinning out overgrown portions of forests to keep it 'healthy' or engaging in selective logging could be disrupting some of these networks.
jamesrcole 9y ago
For anyone interested, there's also "What a Plant Knows: a field guide to the senses" by Daniel Chamovitz, which is pretty good. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0089RO8E0/ https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0089RO8E0/

dmix 9y ago

Do you know how far from the tree do these network travel? Do the other trees it 'communicates' with have to be right next to it or can they be some distance? As someone who has a passing interest in mycology I find this as much interesting in how important fungi is to the world as are trees. It has many proponents who believe fungi doesn't get enough credit for fueling the world's ecology as plants and trees. Possibly due to mushrooms perception as being harmful to humans. Thanks for the book recommendation (Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Life-Trees-Communicate-Discoveries/dp/1771642483 https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Life-Trees-Communicate-Discove...).

gehwartzen 9y ago
Yeah, I was just thinking how some of our seemingly established forestry principles of thinning out overgrown portions of forests to keep it 'healthy' or engaging in selective logging could be disrupting some of these networks.

jamesrcole 9y ago

For anyone interested, there's also "What a Plant Knows: a field guide to the senses" by Daniel Chamovitz, which is pretty good. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0089RO8E0/ https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0089RO8E0/