Trees exchange chemical signals and nutrients through underground networks of mycorrhizal fungi, forming a vast web that links roots and allows information and resources to move between plants.
Overview
Mycorrhizal networks, sometimes called the \"wood wide web,\" are created when fungal hyphae connect to the roots of multiple plants, producing an interconnected system that can redistribute carbon, water, nutrients, and signalling molecules across a plant community.
How the Network Works
Fungi form mutualistic associations with plant roots in which the fungus receives sugars while providing mineral nutrients and water. The hyphal connections also transmit chemical signals that can warn neighbours of pests, transfer carbon to seedlings, or alter growth patterns.
Ecological Significance
These underground exchanges influence forest health, seedling establishment, species interactions, and resilience to disturbance, and they are reshaping how ecologists understand cooperation and competition in plant communities.
Practical Notes
Management and conservation practices that protect soil fungal communities and minimise disturbance can help maintain these networks, supporting forest regeneration and ecosystem function.
Quick Related Facts
- Also known as: wood wide web
- Main components: tree roots; mycorrhizal fungal hyphae
- Functions: nutrient transfer; chemical signalling; support for seedlings