Plant Signals in a Geomagnetic Storm

Question this experiment will answer:
Can a geomagentic storm alter the electrical signalling patterns of a Conifer (Picea alba)?

We know that animal species can sense the earth’s geomagnetic field. Many bird species use their magnetoreception for navigation. Some cetaceans such as dolphins and orcas also sense the magnetic field and use it for navigating long distances through the oceans. It is believed that when geomagnetic disturbances (storms) ocurr these marine mammals can temporarily lose their sense of direction. More recently it was shown that at least one ant species uses the geomagnetic field as an additional cue for finding their way back to their nest.

Plants do not move and sensing the magnetic field may not give them any significant advantage in that regard, however since geomagnetic storms are mostly caused by abrupt changes in the particle flow and the spectral output of the sun and plants are very sensitive to different wavelengths of light, even if they don’t sense magnetism directly they could be sensing the associated changes in light spectral composition and react to it, for example to protect their sensitive photosynthetic machinery.

All videos for the Geomagentism long-run experiment

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Introduction

Geomagnetic Kp-index (global indicator for disturbances of the Earth’s magnetic field)