For a biologist to call a tree “intelligent” would, for many non-scientists, be a call for raised eyebrows. However, it now appears that God may have indeed instilled into the mighty oak a type of intelligence.
It seems that oak trees can synchronize their erratic production of acorns in a way that they can stay one step ahead of the local mouse population. The white-footed mouse depends primarily on the acorns as its main food source. The mice will eat large quantities of the nut which decreases the oak’s ability to reproduce its species.
The rate of mouse reproduction increases or decreases in response to, in part, the availability of food supplies. When acorns are abundant, the next year will be a big one for mouse population. When acorns are scarce, then the mice will have a very low birthrate and a high deathrate. The mouse population cycles from low to high depending upon acorn production.
It appears that oak trees in one area will produce huge numbers of acorns one year and then as the mouse population increases will decrease the numbers. Each year there are areas where large numbers of acorns will be produced, but this large production will move from area to area.
How do the trees know when the mouse population is up? Do the trees communicate with one another by some type of chemical signal so as to coordinate acorn population? Can the tree detect the mouse presence? These questions are yet to be answered. But in the infinite wisdom of God, he has allowed each type of living thing to exist and survive in its environment.
