At the Reserve I mentioned that I found a strange tree... or maybe I haven't mentioned it. This oak was not hollow but was definitely stressed. It had dropped three branches and was sprouting a load of epicormic shoots. Anyway, I was thinking about how animals respond to human stressors - illness, aggression, cultural breakdown... and I thought, "Wow. We have destroyed most tree culture! The fungi and that soil bacteria. The networked connections and the relationships! They are all really stressed." It's not just that we import diseases, but also that the trees are less able to cope. In 100 years we will have hardly any ash trees and I fear all too few oaks and chestnuts.
Then I thought about sound. One thing is certain: healthy soil, like a healthy coral reef SOUNDS healthy. You think I'm losing the plot? Well check out this scientific paper on soil acoustics! You can't be bothered to read it? Fine. Here's a five minute video that includes soil sounds.
And, even better, here is a page - including sound samples - of a healthy forest. The first recording is about the most wonderful thing these super-ears have listened to.
Coral larvae swim to the sound of a healthy coral reef. Roots may grow to the sound of healthy soil.
I also believe trees send sound messages to the soil, about the wind and about their own health and the state of the environment and the soil fauna hear the messages and respond. The sound of the wind in live and dead branches travels down the trunk. I believe the microbiota know the sound of healthy trees. Of course, plants and soil beings communicate with chemistry and electricity too, but also, I think, with sound. I think elephants can hear trees through the soil when it’s windy.
I also believe I would be considered delusional.
I really really want to hear my trees and the soil around my trees.
While on the subject of sound, do yourself a favour and explore the Great Animal Orchestra. It's unbeatable.You will not regret time spent with this. In fact you'll thank me. And maybe get me a gift.
While you're at it, well, after listening and getting the gift, check out this site - you can hear live audio from ecosystems all around the world!! It's incredible. people do remote bird identification via some of them. What a world to explore aurally!
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