The Social Life of Forests (opens in new tab)

In Sheldrake's book, Engtangled Life, if I remember correctly, he suggests that it may be better not to think of it as trees communicating, but rather mycorrhizal networks passing on the information to other trees because it's in their interest to do so (the article posted alludes to this). It's similar to how mycorrhizal networks will transfer chemicals and nutrients between trees, because it's to their benefit to keep as many trees alive as possible.

One thing I do remember that was quite fascinating, is that the exchange of nutrients and chemicals is almost like a trading network: mycorrhizal fungi will send stuff it produces that trees need to places where the reward (payment) will be highest. An example would be, if the mycorrhizal fungi has phosphorous to "trade" for carbon, if there is a tree that will "pay" less (perhaps because it doesn't need the phosphorous, or it needs carbon for itself), the mycorrhizal fungi would rather divert that phosphorus to another tree that would give a greater return of carbon.

There's a description of this "trading network" here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6584331/

Apologies if I described it wrong, I read the book a while ago.

I recently watched the film Fantastic Fungi and I think she makes an appearance in it. I was really fascinated when they mention how trees can use mycelium to transfer nutrients to other trees, but wished they could go more in depth on how that works. This Ted talk is a great supplement to the research

I find her ted talks way too anthropomorphic to be honest.

Now that nature is a complex web of mutually beneficial interactions, why not (and I'd root for this actually).

If she could remove the emotional side of things it would help I believe.

This is also a good book on the topic:

https://www.npr.org/books/titles/488266595/the-hidden-life-o...

I would also listen to his interview on NPR. The way he talks about trees. I just love it. It's everything that I have always felt inside, but he did the research to prove it.

I knew being a tree hugger would make sense one day.

https://www.npr.org/2018/04/19/602903697/novelist-richard-po...

Or this one

https://www.ttbook.org/interview/writing-inner-life-trees

I just finished this yesterday (excellent) and now I'm wondering... So much is prescient, but is anyone building the video game that will save us ecologically? My fingers are crossed.

Can +1 that, read that book recently on a friend's recommendation. The way he describes how the trees feel is so impressive

A third book in a similar vein is Lab Girl by Hope Jahren. It's a bit of her own story mixed in with useful info, but you can feel the love she has for the subject.