Utah‘s Pando aspen grove, famously known as the „trembling giant,“ is a remarkable organism comprising approximately 47,000 genetically identical stems, all connected by an immense underground root system. Spanning 106 acres, it holds the title of largest tree by weight and landmass and is estimated to be over 9,000 years old, making it one of the oldest living organisms on Earth.
Jeff Rice, an audio engineer, and Lance Oditt, director of Friends of Pando, have taken a groundbreaking approach to exploring this natural wonder by creating an „acoustic portrait“ of the grove. Using various recording tools, including hydrophones, they captured sounds such as the rustling of Pando‘s leaves, bird songs, weather patterns, and even subtle vibrations within its roots. Hydrophones, commonly used for underwater recordings, detected faint vibrations traveling through the root system, hinting at a form of interconnected communication. For instance, when a branch was struck 90 feet away, the hydrophone registered a soft thump, demonstrating how vibrations traverse the shared root network.
What started as an artistic project also offers valuable scientific insights into Pando’s biodiversity and environmental health. The researchers believe their findings could pave the way for innovative studies on water movement, root depth, and the grove‘s hidden hydraulic system. Its unique interconnectedness not only challenges conventional ideas about individuality but also reveals the complex life of one of the planet‘s most ancient and extraordinary organisms.
Source
https://www.treehugger.com/listen-sounds-of-the-largest-tree-on-earth-7495881