Trees Have Their Own Internet, and It Works Like Ours

admin | October 28, 2015

Fungal networks may be critical in helping forests deal with climate change. These biological webs conserve genetic resources for future tree migrations, ensure that forest carbon stocks remain intact and safeguard species diversity. ©Eric Rock

I admit I may be what some would consider a little too woo-woo, “out there” when it comes to trees. I’ve always had a special affinity for them; I’ve even written whole books about them. On this blog, I’ve presented to you reports on plant sentience and the fact that trees talk by releasing chemicals into the air. There have been a lot of doubters among you—which is only healthy, necessary and right for ensuring that we pass on true, scientific findings. But I’m happy to say that there is now even more evidence that trees communicate with each other—and this time, it’s via fungi.

Fungal mycelia connect the roots of trees in a forest. ©From the video “‪Do Trees Communicate?,” Dan McKinney‬‬, Black Forrest Productions, 2011‬

Suzanne W. Simard, a professor in the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences at the University of British Columbia, is an expert in plant-to-plant and plant-to-soil microbial interactions. Recently, her studies have shown that all trees in a forest ecosystem are interconnected, with the largest, oldest, “mother trees” serving as hubs.

Working in the Douglas fir forests of interior British Columbia, Professor Simard has demonstrated that trees communicate by way of an “Internet” made of fungi. Networks of fungal mycelia (masses of branching, thread-like filaments) connect the roots of trees in a mutually beneficial relationship: trees supply the fungi with food in the form of carbohydrates. In return, the fungi help the trees suck up water and nutrients the mycelia gather from the soil. This bolsters the trees’ resilience against disturbance or stress. If the fungal links are not conserved—or the mother trees are removed—a whole network could unravel and the regenerative capacity of the forest would be compromised.

If given a chance, a dying tree will pass on what it can to future generations. ©Henry H. Holdsworth

Watch the video below. It depicts how most of the plants you can see in a forest are connected below ground—not directly through their roots but via their mycelial connections. I particularly like Dr. Simard’s thought at the end: instead of cutting down dying trees in a forest and immediately hauling the wood away, we should let them stand for a while, giving them time to pass on what they can to the next generation.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say, in the end, isn’t that what we all want to do?

Here’s to finding your true places and natural habitats,

Candy

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Trees bring farm to life

admin | December 7, 2011

By Kath SullivanTuesday, 6 December 2011

Matt Kilby says the swale helps to collect water and nutrients, which can then be spread across the paddock. (Kath Sullivan)

When he first arrived at Nambrok, the McGauran family property between Sale and Rosedale, Matt Kilby found says the farm was barren.

“I found about 1 per cent of this 3,000-acre (120-hectare) property had tree cover. The land was dry and scalded. There was no grass. Erosion was happening where the bulls had been walking to and fro the watering holes. And I thought wow, what an opportunity to show the public what we can actually do!”.

Part arborist/part farm consultant, Mr Kilby has spent the last 18 months working with the McGauran family to restore part of the farm, by planting trees and introducing swales.

He says the fact that former federal agriculture minister Peter McGauran comes from a property with almost no trees is indicative of the way many Australian farmers view the land.

It’s attitude he’s determined to change.

When Matt Kilby first arrived at Nambrok, just one per cent of the 3000 acre/ 120 hectare property was under trees. He’s trying to change that by planting hundreds of seedlings like this one. | Photographer: | Kath Sullivan

“The first thing we did was put in a swale. A swale is a ditch which runs dead level to contour. The idea of the swale is more or a tree planting system.” he said.

“We plant all our trees on the top side of the swale. We plant fertility building trees and all the leaf mulch falls into the swale or ditch, and turns into humic acid when it fills up with water. So all the nutrients are then spread back onto the surface and spread completely around the landscape.” he said, describing the swale as a natural way to irrigate.

Mr Kilby, who works along the east coast of Australia, and in the middle east to restore soil and farm productivity.

He says he’s ideas have had a mixed feedback from farmers.

Consultant Matt Kilby stands before one of the swales he has put in at Gippsland farm, Nambrok. | Photographer: | Kath Sullivan

“Farmers are a very conservative bunch. and talk is cheap and so what we’re doing is getting out there and doing the work.

“It might take me 10 years to convince people, but we’ve got to have a go. We’ve got to show farmers that there is a more sustainable way of farming… building our soils back, building profitability and building nutrition in our food.”

Audio
Matt Kilby talks about restoring Nambrok – Click the play button below.
 
Original article http://www.abc.net.au/rural/content/2011/s3384788.htm

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