Today's fun fact: Forests are inherently socialist. Seriously.
In a forest, most plants are linked together by an underground network of mycorrhizal fungi. Via the fungi, the plants share resources around so that they can all benefit. Wha's more, the plants contribute more or less depending on how much they have. Plants with more resources contribute more to their community, helping to nurture the small, young, and weak ones.
This is one of my favourite random pieces of knowledge!
@InvaderXan I really recommend people look up a book called 'the hidden life of trees' as a good layman introduction to how forests are incredible
@InvaderXan As usual in nature, it's not all peaceful: While tree communities exist, other tree species are at war with each other, using toxins and other weapons. E.g. the willow's long branches are sharp and used as whips to cut off other trees' branches.
@InvaderXan
Anyone who likes this fact will enjoy reading "the hidden life of trees" by Peter Wohlleben.
@InvaderXan
be
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seid
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#hambacherforst
@InvaderXan There was a study recently that showed the trees and fungi didn’t just “share” resources, they also stored them for each other, like batteries or like emergency pantries. The nutrients didn’t just spread around in an ambient general way, they were disbursed to any specific tree or fungal zone that was injured. The storage could last for decades.
@demonkind Oh that's interesting. I love how there's so much we don't fully understand about there things yet. It seems like I'm always learning new things!
@InvaderXan i first heard about it in this ted talk: https://youtu.be/Un2yBgIAxYs
(mind blown!)