Breakthrough Study Reveals Animals Respond to Plant Sounds

Researchers have discovered that female moths avoid laying eggs on tomato plants emitting distress sounds. This breakthrough opens up the possibility of multifaceted interactions between plants and animals based on sound communication, suggesting a hidden ecosystem.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have made a groundbreaking discovery, revealing that animals can respond to sounds produced by plants, indicating a deep-seated ecological relationship. In a novel study, scientists found that female moths chose not to lay their eggs on tomato plants when they detected sounds that suggested the plants were under stress, hinting at an intelligence in their decision-making that factors in the health of their environment.

This research builds on earlier findings from the same university two years ago, which revealed that plants emit sounds when they are unhealthy or experiencing distress. Although these sounds are inaudible to human ears, many insects, bats, and certain mammals can hear them. "This is the first demonstration ever of an animal responding to sounds produced by a plant," stated Professor Yossi Yovel, emphasizing the potential for a complex interaction that could influence animal behavior significantly.

Through meticulous experimentation, the researchers established that the moths' avoidance was based on auditory clues rather than visual characteristics of the plants. Future studies will explore the variety of sounds different plants produce and whether other animal species make decisions influenced by these cues, including pollination or seeking refuge within plants. "We can speculate that there could be intricate interactions, with various animals making choices based on what they hear from plants," Prof. Yovel explained.

Moreover, researchers are investigating whether plants can communicate distress signals to one another through these sounds and if they can, in turn, adapt their responses, such as conserving water during droughts. "This is an exciting question," said Professor Lilach Hadany, pointing to the potential implications for understanding plant communication networks.

While the research highlights the non-sentient nature of plants—the sounds emitted being a result of physical changes rather than conscious emissions—it underscores the mutual benefits that could arise from co-evolution between plant and animal species. According to Prof. Hadany, as both plants and animals adapt to these interactions, plants may evolve to produce more identifiable sounds, leading to enhanced communication through auditory signals.

The exploration of plant sounds as a communication medium represents a vast and largely uncharted realm in the biological sciences, promising new insights into the intricate web of life that connects flora and fauna. The study has been published in the journal eLife, paving the way for further investigations in this fascinating field.