The unusual circles found in the Namibian grasslands remain a tantalizing mystery. These rings of barren earth can reach up to 30 meters in diameter, while vegetation only grows around the outer circle. Because of their resemblance to the circular rings of trees that made up fairy forts or covens in Ancient Celtic mythology, the phenomenon has been popularly referred to as a “fairy circle.” Some might be reminded of extraterrestrial visitors when they see the shapes, but the most plausible theory accepted by ecologists has been that these structures are the work of termites.
A new study, conducted by biologist Stephan Getzin of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig, Germany, now proposes that the termites are no longer a likely suspect, due to the precision of the structures, whereas termites feed in a much more irregular fashion, typically leaving clusters and therefore could not create orderly shapes on such a large scale as this theory would require them to do.
The circles were studied from an aerial view, and some are 75 years old. Getzin published his work in Ecography. Although the number of theories continues to vary for the existence of the circles, such as fungi, carnivorous ants, or the buildup of hydrocarbons in the ground, according to Getzin, this might just be a pattern through which the plants regulate their own growth.
A new study, conducted by biologist Stephan Getzin of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig, Germany, now proposes that the termites are no longer a likely suspect, due to the precision of the structures, whereas termites feed in a much more irregular fashion, typically leaving clusters and therefore could not create orderly shapes on such a large scale as this theory would require them to do.
The circles were studied from an aerial view, and some are 75 years old. Getzin published his work in Ecography. Although the number of theories continues to vary for the existence of the circles, such as fungi, carnivorous ants, or the buildup of hydrocarbons in the ground, according to Getzin, this might just be a pattern through which the plants regulate their own growth.
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