Almost a year ago, a group of artists presented a unique recording: Pando, a forest tree and the largest and oldest living organism on Earth. This technical feat resulted in a breathtaking reminder of the beauty and fragility of our planet.
Did you know you can listen to the heaviest living organism on our planet? Its name is Pando, a massive clonal colony of quaking aspen trees originating from the same root system covering over 108 acres and weighing about 6,000 tons. Its age ranges from 8,000 to 12,000 years old, making it one of the oldest beings on Earth, captivating many individuals.
The Song of a Tree-Forest
Jeff Rice, a sound artist, embarked on a unique project to record the sounds emitted by Pando, including the vibrations passing through its roots and leaves.
He placed a hydrophone inside a hole at the base of one of Pando’s branches and lowered it to touch its roots. The recordings captured the vibrations emitted by the tree’s roots and leaves.
The fascinating result includes the sounds of wind or rain in the leaves, along with vibrations passing through the roots, too faint to be perceived directly by the human ear without amplification.
An Artistic Experience in Service of Science
Presented at the 184th meeting of the Acoustical Society of America in May 2023, these data – apart from their beauty – could be used to better understand the health and internal workings of this tree-forest, providing valuable insights into how forest ecosystems react to climate change.
As Pando silently dies due to human activities, environmental crises, diseases, and forest fires, efforts by organizations like Friends of Pando are working to protect this exceptional ecological and historical heritage.