The health of animal populations is directly related to the level of ambient noise. However, not only the animal, but also the plant world reacts to sounds.
The study was conducted by biologists from the University of Western Australia; its results are published in the journal Oecologia.
Common peas (Latin Pisum sativum) were used as a test plant. The scientists planted the plants in containers with two tubes at the base, which allowed the root system to grow in two directions. Below there were systems that emit sound: the murmur of flowing water or "white noise". Further, it remained only to observe the development of the root system.
When the plants grew up and got stronger, a direct connection with sound was found. In containers with overdried soil, the roots grew in the direction of the sound of flowing water, whereas in cases where the soil in the container was regularly moistened, roots developed in the usual way. Having established that plants are able to search for a source of water, focusing only on its sound, and doing so only when necessary, scientists note that "their perception of the world around them is much more complicated than previously thought."
Anastasia Barinova