Session 18 July 2015

[Thassa]

(Perceval) What are those so-called "Fairy Circles" in the desert in Namibia?

A: Related to fungal spread under surface.
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I find that odd. Most of researchers point to the cause as either plant competition for water and/or termites.
Some studies did mention fungi might play a secondary role, but I didn't find any claiming they are the main cause.

In Australia there is a similar phenomenon and, notably, there are no termite species there! This points to the plants' competition for water as the cause.

The leading hypothesis is, basically, plants that grew first will get all the water, thus leaving the surrounding soil drier for would-be plants.

I just think that if fungi really were the main cause, there would be a significant amount of it, and researchers wouldn’t overlook it.

 

[Thassa]

Well, those mushroom fairy circles are indeed caused by fungi.

But these circles free of vegetation in arid lands, well, if we were to follow the extant studies; it's highly unlikely fungi are the main cause.

The comparison with those of Australia really points to mere plants competition, what leaves the soil drier.

 

[Thassa]

Talking of vegetation. There are two other interesting ones without definite explanation:

1) The forest of Crooked Trees, in Poland. They get a shape of candy cane.

2) Dancing Forest, in Kaliningrad, not very far way from the Polish Crooked Trees forest, but not the same thing. The trees here grow in a loop pattern.