The motivation for most, if not all of wars is to accumulate resources for the aggressing nation’s or peoples’ benefit. A competition of resources is a motif that has been widely observed in the animal community. Surprisingly, a recent study in the December 2009 issue of The American Naturalist shows that this theme is also found amongst many tree communities.

This past summer, severe drought in the state of California led to many forest fires that left some areas of the state in ashes. While we often think of wildfires as a bad thing given their extremely high cost both in terms of human life and property, at least some species of plants seem to benefit.

Brian Beckage and his research team at the University of Vermont discovered that some savanna trees actually contribute to the likelihood of a fire in order promote their own prosperity at the expense of their competitors. “We used a mathematical model to show that positive feedback loops between fire frequency and savanna trees, alone or together with grasses, can stabilize ecological communities in a savanna state, blocking conversion of savannas to forest,” said Beckage.

The self promotion on the part of savanna trees simultaneously ensures their livelihood and dominance in the competitive environments in which they live. The very fact that trees can actually engineer the environment around them sheds light on the great complexity even seemingly simple life forms can sometimes display.

In sum, if the recent onslaught of pro-recycling campaigns and anti-deforestation laws haven’t helped to increase your awareness of trees, maybe a fear of their potential wrath will!

Discussion Question: Can you think of any other plants that engage in “self-defense” tactics to ensure their survival?

News Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091028192613.htm#at
Scientific Article: http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/648458