Dear all,
I do not think that the cited text of David Attenborough is wrong or
"anthropomorphizing": the idea of roots foraging for resources is
generally accepted among those who work in that field, although it
might look strange at first to people working on animal (or human)
behaviour. The only issue I would have with the claims in the quoted
text is that the described behaviour is usually related to nutrient
acquisition, not water uptake, but at least in some environments, one
goes with the other anyway ;-)
Here is one recent overview paper, from which references to actual
studies could be looked up:
G.G. McNickle, C.C. StClair, J. Cahill (2009): Focusing the metaphor:
plant root foraging behaviour. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 24(8):
419-426.
I also note that there are even stranger notion in plant behavioural studies,
such as kin recognition ("is the nearby root from the same plant as I am?")
and I will be happy to add relevant citations to anyone interested.
Best regards
from Petr Smilauer
Ceske Budejovice, CZ
...
In an earlier post, I asked about a paragraph from a book by David
Attenborough. I did not criticize Attenborough, I only questioned some of
his statements (comments from Ecolog subscribers pointed out that he was
anthropomorphizing, perhaps considered necessary to enlighten the
unenlightened, as some implied). Attenborough and other hard-working people
deserve credit for their accomplishments, and cherry-picking a few mistakes
...
Until I saw the paragraph in question, I had a high regard for Attenborough,
and that has not changed because of the "errors." Certainly some Ecolog
contributors felt that such anthropomorphizing was necessary to get the
broader message across to "the public." I wonder, however, if this attitude
is a patronizing one, and whether it, and the practices it supports,
smartens-up more than it dumbs-down. Does not science largely and
fundamentally consist of subjecting itself to question?
...
The following quote has come to my attention:
"To find water, a plant has to position its roots with just as much
precision as it arranges its leaves. If moisture is in very short supply,
then a plant may have to drive a tap root deep into the ground to reach the
water table. Some desert plants have had to develop root systems that are
far deeper than they are tall and extend laterally a very long way beyond
the furthest extent of their foliage. Even if the environment is
well-watered, a plant may still need to compete with others for this
essential commodity, so it positions a network of roots within a few inches
of the soil surface, where it can gather the rain water before others can."
(Attenborough 1995:48-51)
