This morning, my six-year-old daughter excitedly entered our bedroom and began reading a story from a book. She carefully followed each word, forming sentences slowly. Occasionally, she stumbled over “funny words” and asked for help, but by the end of the book, she had shared a charming tale about a bear in the snow.
Verbal communication has played a crucial role in human success. It allows us to warn each other of danger and share complex information. However, it’s not only humans and animals who have developed sophisticated methods of communication. Plants, often seen as passive, also have their own ways of interacting. This concept has been popularized in films like Avatar, and recent scientific discoveries suggest that plant communication might be even more complex than previously thought.
The Complexity of Plant Communication
Plant communication networks are delicate and balanced. To illustrate, imagine if global network systems suddenly failed. Recent IT outages, such as those experienced by CrowdStrike, show how fragile our communication systems can be, highlighting the importance of effective communication. This principle applies to plants as well.
Understanding plant communication involves recognizing that humans also use non-verbal systems. We rely on our senses—sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch—to convey information. For example, natural gas companies add a chemical called mercaptan to gas to alert us to leaks with its distinctive smell. Additionally, sign language and lip reading are other non-verbal methods we use.
Beyond these senses, humans also rely on equilibrioception (balance), proprioception (awareness of body position), thermoception (temperature changes), and nociception (pain). These abilities enhance our communication and interaction with the world.
How Plants Communicate
Plants, too, use their own senses to exchange information. For instance, the smell of freshly cut grass is due to volatile chemicals released by the plants. These chemicals signal nearby plants about the presence of a predator, like a lawnmower, prompting them to adjust their defenses. Unlike humans, plants rely on chemical signals rather than auditory cues.
Recent research has revealed the extent of plant communication through their roots, electrical signals, and networks of fungi and soil microbes. This underground communication network, known as the “wood wide web,” connects trees and plants, allowing them to share resources and information. For example, older trees can support younger ones and warn each other about threats like pests.
Scientific Advances in Plant Communication
Electrophysiology, a newer scientific field, studies how electrical signals within and between plants are communicated. Advances in technology and artificial intelligence (AI) have accelerated research in this area. Scientists are now integrating electrical signal communication into modern greenhouses to monitor and control crop watering and detect nutritional deficiencies.
Researchers use small electrical probes to study how changes in electrical signals affect plant performance, such as water transport and nutrient conversion. In some cases, electrical signals from mobile phones have even influenced plant behavior, such as causing Venus flytraps to open or close their leaves.
The Impact of Environmental Changes
The “wood wide web” is one of the oldest communication systems, connecting over 80% of plants. This extensive network helps plants adapt to environmental changes by facilitating resource sharing and information exchange. However, disturbances like chemical pollution, deforestation, and climate change can disrupt these networks, affecting plant communication and making ecosystems more vulnerable.
Disruptions in these networks can alter plant behaviors, including defense responses and gene regulation. This can complicate efforts to protect and restore ecosystems. Further research is needed to fully understand the impacts of these disruptions.
The Importance of Communication in Nature
Just as teaching children to read is crucial for their development, maintaining plant communication networks is vital for our well-being. Plants are essential for our survival, and their ability to communicate helps sustain ecosystems. Ensuring these networks remain intact is as important as fostering literacy in future generations.