Most organisms have a way of protecting themselves against predators using fight or flight, but how do trees defend themselves? Trees are attacked by herbivores low and high, above and below ground. If trees can’t move, how do they protect themselves? Well, some trees have a physical defense mechanisms such as thorns, poisonous berries, and leaf hairs that feel like needle that will project them above ground. Underground trees use chemicals to fight off certain underground herbivores like worms and grubs from destroying them by feasting on the roots.
Although Trees cannot flee when under attack, they do have physical defense traits such as thorns, thick bark, poisonous berries, and hairs. Trees like the Honey Locust have long thorns to protect themselves against their natural predators that might climb or land in the branches to feed on the tree. Many trees you come across may have thick bark as a defense mechanism and thick bark will help with a number of things such as pests, scratches, and disease. When a tree has thick bark it is harder for pests to drill holes through the bark and eat the cambium layer and trees with thick bark are less prone to deep punctures that will let disease into the tree. Poisonous berries and spiky leaf hairs can help the tree drive away certain animals that may want to eat the tree’s leaves and berries. Leaf hairs have a dual job. They are extremely important as they will reduce the amount of loss of water by blocking the sun that sucks the moisture out of the leaf. Leaves are important as they perform photosynthesis which makes the sugars for the trees..
Underground attackers can harm trees by feeding on the roots of plants, but trees have the ability to create a special chemical that drives the hungry herbivores away! This is extremely important to trees, as roots are very vulnerable, but carry the water and nutrients from the soil into the tree. There are downsides when the tree uses chemicals to drive predators away. Can you guess what they are? The tree needs to use energy and sugars to make the chemical that would have been used to help growth of the tree. Another flaw in this method is usually the plant starts attacking after there has already been damage.
So even though trees can’t use fight or flight to protect themselves, they are not defenseless and can actually defend themselves pretty well!
