Learning from our plant friends
Humans and animals often find themselves in competition with other organisms and thus operate with a focus on survival. A neurogeneticist colleague pointed out that “survival of the fittest” can also mean “demise of the least fit” and so competition can be especially vigorous, particularly as resources become scarce. Competition is not limited to organisms with a brain, also being seen across plant species. Moreover, plants, like humans and other animals, can also behave cooperatively and benefit from one another. For instance, the shade provided by one species allows a second to remain moist and hence more likely to survive under blistering sun. The use of nutrients is sometimes also shared between different species. As a situation becomes increasingly threatening for the survival of plants, their behavior might change, but it might not entail an “every plant for himself” strategy. In fact, actions that might have hindered a neighbor’s growth actually diminish, especially in highly competitive species (grasses) so that more vulnerable species (trees) are more likely to survive. Remarkably, when a bug starts to graze on a seemingly helpless plant, the plant actually responds by producing and releasing chemicals that might cause the bug to leave. But, more than this, once these chemicals are released into the air, nearby plants respond to these signals by manufacturing chemicals that similarly repel predatory insects. Unfortunately for the plants, some well‐adapted insects have developed so that these protective plant signals are used as markers that help them locate potential plant prey. The latter unfortunate outcome aside, it seems that plants can teach humans a fair bit in relation to social behavior. If they aren’t mowed down by natural and unnatural challenges, they might have still more to tell us. For the moment, however, the essential message is that having friends who can be counted on is a great way of coping with challenges.
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Humans and animals often find themselves in competition with other organisms and thus operate with a focus on survival. A neurogeneticist colleague pointed out that “survival of the fittest” can also mean “demise of the least fit” and so competition can be especially vigorous, particularly as resources become scarce. Competition is not limited to organisms with a brain, also being seen across plant species. Moreover, plants, like humans and other animals, can also behave cooperatively and benefit from one another. For instance, the shade provided by one species allows a second to remain moist and hence more likely to survive under blistering sun. The use of nutrients is sometimes also shared between different species. As a situation becomes increasingly threatening for the survival of plants, their behavior might change, but it might not entail an “every plant for himself” strategy. In fact, actions that might have hindered a neighbor’s growth actually diminish, especially in highly competitive species (grasses) so that more vulnerable species (trees) are more likely to survive. Remarkably, when a bug starts to graze on a seemingly helpless plant, the plant actually responds by producing and releasing chemicals that might cause the bug to leave. But, more than this, once these chemicals are released into the air, nearby plants respond to these signals by manufacturing chemicals that similarly repel predatory insects. Unfortunately for the plants, some well‐adapted insects have developed so that these protective plant signals are used as markers that help them locate potential plant prey. The latter unfortunate outcome aside, it seems that plants can teach humans a fair bit in relation to social behavior. If they aren’t mowed down by natural and unnatural challenges, they might have still more to tell us. For the moment, however, the essential message is that having friends who can be counted on is a great way of coping with challenges.
You have full text access to this content
Stress and Your Health: From Vulnerability to ResiliencePublished Online: 24 APR 2015
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/doi/10.1002/9781118850350.ch4/pdf
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