Plants signal animals with sound when under stress
Nature is filled with unique signals beyond human hearing. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
Recently, a scientific study conducted by researchers at Tel Aviv University in Israel showed that plants can express themselves through sound when under stress, and these sounds may indeed affect animals. For the first time, it has been confirmed that sounds emitted by plants elicit responses from animals.
The researchers found that when female moths heard sounds indicating that the tomato plant was under stress, they stopped laying eggs on it. This discovery shows that there are hidden communications in nature that occur through sounds inaudible to humans.
According to Professor Yossi Yovel, this phenomenon is the first instance of animals responding to sounds produced by plants. He also speculated that many animals might use these sounds to make decisions about food, shelter, or other vital choices.
The scientists studied the reactions of moths in a specially controlled environment, analyzing sound and appearance separately. As a result, it was determined that only the sound factor influenced the animals' behavior.
In the next phase of the research, the sounds produced by different plants and how other organisms respond to these sounds will be studied. Professor Lilach Hadani believes another interesting direction is the question of whether plants can transmit information to each other through sound.
For example, in drought conditions, one plant might send a warning signal to others, urging them to reduce water consumption. As the researchers noted, plants are not conscious; the sounds they produce are a result of physiological changes.
However, these sounds could become a valuable source of information for other organisms. If these hypotheses are correct, plants and animals have adapted to understand each other during the evolutionary process.
According to Professor Hadani, if animals have the ability to receive information through sounds, plants might also produce them more strongly or in greater quantities. This remains scientifically unexplored but is a vast and intriguing direction that could open the door to a hidden world.
This study specifically observed female moths, as they often lay their eggs on tomato plants. This is crucial for providing a sufficient food source for the caterpillars.
However, when the plant indicated its stress state through sound, the moths decided to lay their eggs elsewhere. This phenomenon demonstrates the existence of communication types in nature that have not yet been heard or seen, as well as their importance for life.
