Plants as network medium?

[Scot E. Wilcoxon]

> > > I just made an assumption that the Earth already has a built in global
> > > communication system, and all there is to do is find it and start using it.

Wishing doesn't make it so.

> > Why would you make such an assumption?  What Darwinian "function" would
> > such a global communication system serve?
> If a communication process propagates itself, it continues. If there is
> no substantial predator (ie noise), it continues. All this needs is a
> chance to be initiated, in a system as chaotic as the earth it's quite
> likely - inevitable even if the medium for the communication evolved
> into widespread existence,...

OK.  There are a lot of radio stations and radio signals are propagating
quite well over the Earth's surface.  Earth even has several webs of
radio based satellite links.  I think Earth has indeed initiated a
global
communication system.

Now, on the physical side, Earth does have a global processing system.
Some of the crust comes to the surface, hardens, is damaged in various
ways, is pulled back down from the surface, and melted back to its
proper form.  The planet couldn't care less about all this litter
up here on the surface, much less a communication system.