The secret language of trees - Camille Defrenne and Suzanne Simard

翻译人员: Candace Hwang 校对人员: Carol Wang

Most of the forest lives in the shadow of the giants

大部分森林生活在像巨人一样的

that make up the highest canopy.

最高树冠形成的阴影下，

These are the oldest trees,

它们是最古老的树，

with hundreds of children and thousands of grandchildren.

并拥有成百上千的子孙。

They check in with their neighbors, sharing food, supplies,

它们与邻居联系紧密， 与邻居分享食物、供给

and wisdom gained over their long lives.

和长久一生中所获得的智慧。

They do all this rooted in place, unable to speak, reach out, or move around.

它们扎根一处，完成了这一切， 不能讲话、伸出去或四处移动，

The secret to their success lies under the forest floor,

其成功的秘诀在于森林地面之下，

where vast root systems support the towering trunks above.

巨大的根系统支持上面高耸的树干。

Partnering with these roots are symbiotic fungi called mycorrhizae.

与这些树根相配合的是共生真菌， 称为菌根。

These fungi have countless branching, thread-like hyphae

这些真菌有无数的分岔的线状菌丝，

that together make up the mycelium.

菌丝构成菌丝体。

The mycelium spreads across a much larger area than the tree root system

菌丝体扩散的区域比树根系统更大，

and connect the roots of different trees together.

并通过根把不同树连接在一起，

These connections form mycorrhizal networks.

这些联结形成了菌根网络。

Through mycorrhizal networks,

通过菌根网络，

fungi can pass resources and signaling molecules between trees.

真菌可以在树木之间 传递资源和信号分子。

We know the oldest trees have the largest mycorrhizal networks

我们知道最古老的树有 最大的菌根网络，

with the most connections to other trees,

与其他树的联系最多，

but these connections are incredibly complicated to trace.

但这些联系追踪起来非常的复杂。

That’s because there are about a hundred species of mycorrhizal fungi–

因为大约有一百种菌根真菌——

and an individual tree might be colonized by dozens of different fungal organisms,

一棵树可被几十种 不同的真菌生物所占领，

each of which connects to a unique set of other trees,

每种真菌连接到特定的树种，

which in turn each have their own unique set of fungal associations.

因此每种树拥有特定的真菌组织。

To get a sense of how substances flow through this network,

要了解物质如何在网络间流通，

let’s zoom in on sugars,

我们来观察一下糖类

as they travel from a mature tree to a neighboring seedling.

如何从成年的树传输到邻近幼苗。

Sugar’s journey starts high above the ground,

糖类旅行开始远高于地面，

in the leaves of the tallest trees above the canopy.

在树冠上方最高的树木的叶子。

The leaves use the ample sunlight up there to create sugars through photosynthesis.

叶子利用充足的阳光 通过光合作用产生糖分，

This essential fuel then travels through the tree

这种必要的养料通过树木

to the base of the trunk in the thick sap.

进入树干底部的浓树液中。

From there, sugar flows down to the roots.

从那里，糖流到根部。

Mycorrhizal fungi encounter the tips of the roots

菌根真菌遇到根尖，

and either surround or penetrate the outer root cells,

然后，根据真菌的类型，

depending on the type of fungi.

它们会围绕或穿透外根细胞。

Fungi cannot produce sugars, though they need them for fuel just like trees do.

真菌不能产生糖，尽管它们 像树一样需要糖作为养分。

They can, however,

然而，

collect nutrients from the soil much more efficiently than tree roots—

它们可以比树根更高效的 吸收土壤中的营养——

and pass these nutrients into the tree roots.

并将这些营养素传递进树根里。

In general,

通常，

substances flow from where they are more abundant to where they are less abundant,

物质会从更丰富的地方 流向缺乏的地方，

or from source to sink.

或者从源到库。

That means that the sugars flow from the tree roots into the fungal hyphae.

也就是说，糖从树根流到真菌菌丝。

Once the sugars enter the fungus,

一旦糖进入真菌，

they travel along the hyphae through pores between cells

它们沿着菌丝穿过细胞间的气孔，

or through special hollow transporter hyphae.

或通过特殊的空心传送者菌丝。

The fungus absorbs some of the sugars,

真菌吸收一部分糖分，

but some travels on and enters the roots of a neighboring tree,

但有些糖会继续进入相邻树的根，

a seedling that grows in the shade and has less opportunity

一棵树荫下生长的小树，

to photosynthesize sugars.

它光合作用产生糖的机会少一些。

But why does fungus transport resources from tree to tree?

但为何真菌要在树间传送营养呢？

This is one of the mysteries of the mycorrhizal networks.

这是菌根网络的未解谜题之一。

It makes sense for fungus to exchange soil nutrients and sugar with a tree—

真菌与树交换土壤养分和糖——

both parties benefit.

实现共赢，是说得通的。

The fungus likely benefits in less obvious ways from being part of a network

真菌可能以不明显的方式 从树间网络中获益，

between trees, but the exact ways aren’t totally clear.

但确切的方法并不完全清楚。

Maybe the fungus benefits from having connections

也许这种真菌得益于

with as many different trees as possible,

与尽可能多的、不同的树建立联系，

and maximizes its connections by shuttling molecules between trees.

并通过在树间来回运输分子 以实现其联系最大化。

Or maybe plants reduce their contributions to fungi

如果真菌不促进树间的养分交流，

if the fungi don’t facilitate exchanges between trees.

树可能会减少对真菌的供给。

Whatever the reasons,

无论何因，

these fungi pass an incredible amount of information between trees.

这些真菌在树间传递了大量的信息。

Through the mycorrhizae, trees can tell when nutrients or signaling molecules

通过菌根，树可以分辨出养分或信号分子

are coming from a member of their own species or not.

是否来自它们自己物种的成员。

They can even tell when information is coming from a close relative

它们甚至可以判断信息 是否来自近亲，

like a sibling or parent.

像手足或父母。

Trees can also share information about events like drought

树还可以通过真菌网络分享信息，

or insect attacks through their fungal networks,

如干旱或昆虫的袭击，

causing their neighbors to increase production of protective enzymes

在威胁来临前，

in anticipation of threats.

引起邻近树木增加保护酶的产量。

The forest’s health relies on these intricate communications and exchanges.

森林的健康仰赖这些 复杂的沟通和交换。

With everything so deeply interconnected,

由于万物紧密的相互联系，

what impacts one species is bound to impact others.

影响一个物种的因素 必然会影响其他物种。