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How Trees Communicate

  • Jun 13, 2012
  • 1 min read

New studies from researchers at the University of British Columbia show that trees can communicate by sharing carbon and nitrogen.  Fungi connects the underground root systems to create a symbiotic relationship that works as a survival mechanism for the trees.  Larger and older “Mother Trees” have mycelium that grows below their roots linking them to nearby trees in a complex neuro-network of roots, soil, fungi and micro-organisms.  The intertwined root system forms a structure that functions similar to axons and neurons in the brain.  Essentially, trees can move their energy, leaving a legacy that transfers from one generation to the next.   This study shows the importance of a complex forest ecosystem that contains both old and young trees together sharing ancient resources in opposition to a clearcut model, which would decimate ancestral knowledge and resources.

 
 
 

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advocating for northwest california since 1977

The Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) is a grassroots 501(c)(3) non-profit environmental organization founded in 1977 that advocates for the science-based protection and restoration of Northwest California’s forests, watersheds, and wildlife with an integrated approach combining public education, citizen advocacy, and strategic litigation.

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