Bioelectrical synchronization of Picea abies during a solar eclipse
Alessandro Chiolerio1,2,3, Monica Gagliano3,4, Silvio Pilia3,5
1Bioinspired Soft Robotics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.
Royal Society Open Science
|May 1, 2025
Summary
Trees exhibit anticipatory bioelectrical responses to solar eclipses, synchronizing their behavior hours before the event. Older trees showed heightened anticipation, revealing complex plant synchrony and collective behavior influenced by age and history.
Area of Science:
- Plant physiology
- Ecology
- Bioelectricity
Background:
- Organisms are significantly influenced by regular light-dark cycles.
- Solar eclipses trigger distinct physiological and behavioral shifts in animals.
- Plant behavior during eclipses is largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the bioelectrical responses of spruce trees during a solar eclipse.
- To assess individual and collective tree behavior synchronization.
- To explore the influence of tree age and physiology on anticipatory responses.
Main Methods:
- Monitoring bioelectrical signals from multiple spruce trees.
- Analyzing temporal patterns and synchrony in tree responses.
- Comparing responses across trees of different ages.
Main Results:
- Spruce trees demonstrated anticipatory bioelectrical synchronization hours before the solar eclipse.
- Older trees exhibited more pronounced anticipatory behavior, including increased time-asymmetry and entropy.
- The study revealed a relationship between trees influenced by age, physiology, and collective history.
Conclusions:
- Trees exhibit coordinated bioelectrical behavior in anticipation of celestial events.
- Tree age and physiological state modulate anticipatory responses.
- This research highlights the significance of synchrony in plant communities and offers new insights into coordinated natural behaviors.
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