Pando is known as “forest of one tree”.
Scientists have recorded the sound of a panda, believed to be the world’s largest living animal, in a “forest of only one tree”. According to Guardian, the forest is composed of 47,000 genetically identical stems sprouting from a shared root system. Pando, which means “I spread” in Latin, is spread over 100 acres. The creature is believed to be thousands of years old with a dry weight of 6,000 metric tons, making it the heaviest living organism on the planet, the outlet further said.
Now, a sound artist has been able to capture an acoustic picture of Pando using a hydrophone.
“This project began with a question: what is the sound of one of the world’s largest creatures,” said sound artist Jeff Rice, presenting his findings at the 184th meeting. Acoustical Society of America in Chicago.
The effort was part of an art project for which Mr. Rice worked with Lance Odette, founder of the non-profit group Friends of Panda.
The artist said, “I recorded everything I possibly could.” Guardian, The recordings also include sounds of rustling leaves, birds, foxes and even ants walking on branches, he said.
In one recording, Mr. Rice heard a whisper, like a million leaves echoing from the roots of a pandanus.
“I think what you’re hearing is the sound of millions of leaves in the forest shaking the tree and going down into the earth through the branches,” Mr Rice said.
science alert Said hydrophone was placed inside a hollow at the base of a branch and threaded up to the tree’s roots.
It even captured thumping on a branch from 90 feet away. This supported the theory that Pando’s root systems are interconnected, the outlet said. However, it added that a proper experimental setup would be needed to confirm that sound was not traveling through the soil.