From Plenty to Scarcity: In Stark Contrast to Fungal Arbitrage

Birch and fir were studied as fungal connected pairs in a forest.

The mycorhizzal pathways between birch and fir seedlings allows carbon to flow for effect. In this case carbon flowed to the fir seedlings. Suzanne Simard discovered (using radio labeled carbon) that 6% of the carbon originally produced by the birch ended up in the fir seedlings.

When the fir seedlings were in shade they received even more carbon from the birches. The birches were passing their hard forged carbon skeletons (sugars) to the fir seedlings. By doing so they were definitely giving the firs a "leg up" on surviving.

So, the question becomes: under what circumstances do the mycorhizzal network and some of its connected trees decide not to seek "higher prices" for nutrients and act, instead, as a socialist association?