If dying trees communicate with incoming species, we might use this knowledge to better assist the migration of tree species as the old forests become maladapted to their native places. A warning-and-aid system—those infested Douglas firs telling pines to upgrade their defense arsenal, for instance—might be important for the growth of the new species or races (genotypes) as the old forests were dying back. As the injured Mother Trees slowly folded their cards, did they transmit their remaining carbon and energy to their offspring? As part of the active dying process. Like senescing grasses,
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