The term social distance came to use with the pandemic. We did not have many occasions to use it before. But, it emphasizes the worthiness of keeping ourselves healthy. When we further investigate the term and how it is using, we can reveal some interesting facts. Though we relate that term to people, there was an incident in nature already.
It would be a bit strange to say that the trees that grow in some of the world’s forests maintain a social distance. Yes, that is true. It is to protect themselves from diseases such as fungal insects that can transmit from nearby trees. Isn’t that amazing? Yes. I think you will agree with me. It is an amazing fact. Biologists believe this incident.
Trees of the same height keep their canopies in contact with each other at some distance. They make a precise boundary so that the canopy does not touch. Scientists call it the Crown Shyness. It is said to be common among the trees of this species as well as among the trees of other species.
Dr. Meg Lowman, a forest canopy biologist and director of the TREE Foundation, has a wonderful idea about this Crown Shyness. She says, “From the moment plants begin to avoid physical contact with each other; productivity begins to increase. That is the beauty of isolation. The tree protects its health”
Scientists first observed this intriguing social distance behavior of trees in the 1920s. Scientists believe that Crown Shyness can reduce the spread of harmful insects and fungi, prevent the wind from breaking off each other’s branches, maximize the photosynthesis of the tree, and provide sunlight.
The Crown Shyness phenomenon is more common in some eucalyptus species, mangrove species, dryobalanops, pines, and pine species. However, look at the pictures. They are amazing.
According to nationalgeographic
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