Fairy circles aren't just in Namibia. Australia also boasts these particular natural formations, so far considered unique in the world. This was confirmed by new research published in Smithsonian Magazine
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
I "fairy circles"I'm not alone in Namibia. Australia also boasts these particular natural formations, so far considered unique in the world. This was confirmed by new research published in Smithsonian Magazine.
What is it about? Fairy circles are large circular shapes devoid of vegetation that arise in tall grass. They have been observed for some time in Namibia but there is still no definite explanation. Over the course of this week, fairy circles have also appeared in the desolate outback of Western Australia. The discovery could help scientists better explain this phenomenon, about which so many have been made hypothesis subsequently denials.
At first it was thought that the circles were created by them termites, hypothesis then set aside. The attention was placed on the grass, thinking that the circles were some kind of mechanism by which the vegetation could make the most of the scarce resources ofrugged desert landscape.
The discovery of fairy circles in Australia, featured this week on Pnas, sees this second hypothesis prevailing based onself-organization of plants.
“The water is limited so it cannot sustain continuous vegetation cover,” explains Stephan Getzin who works at the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research in Germany.
In 2014 Getzin had co-authored a article on surprisingly smooth distance of the circles of Namibia, supporting the theory of competition for resources. This document caught the attention of another scientist, Bronwyn Bell, who noted the similarity of some local formations in Australia and contacted his colleague.
“Three days later, I received images in my mailbox that looked identical to the Namibian fairy circles,” says Getzin. "We couldn't believe it, Namibian fairy circles should be the only ones in the world."
From the investigations conducted in the field it emerged that the Australian forms were very similar to those of Namibia. Although Australian rims vary in size, on average, the rings are large enough to fit a large minivan inside them. And in both circles, there is a ring of vegetation surrounding the central part.
The new study also confirmed that the circles found in Australia have nothing to do with the possible presence of termites. It is more likely to be a plant adaptation mechanism.
Getzin and his team suggest that when it rains, pools of water form by digging furrows. Here the vegetation finds better conditions, pushing the roots deeper and managing to collect even more water. A convincing explanation but which is not yet confirmed by experimental tests.
He is still alone to know the secrets of the fairy circles Mother Nature.
Francesca Mancuso
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READ also:
THE PHENOMENON OF THE CIRCLES OF THE NAMIBIA FAIRIES
