Drone image of the Australian fairy circles, taken at a flying altitude of 40 m above ground. The gaps have average diameters of 4 m and the spatially periodic pattern results from approximately equal distances between the centers of nearest-neighbouring gaps. This study plot burnt in 2014 and the recovering spinifex grasses were two years and eight months old. Photo: Dr Stephan Getzin, University of Göttingen
Drone image of the Australian fairy circles, taken at a flying altitude of 40 m above ground. The gaps have average diameters of 4 m and the spatially periodic pattern results from approximately equal distances between the centers of nearest-neighbouring gaps. This study plot burnt in 2014 and the recovering spinifex grasses were two years and eight months old. Photo: Dr Stephan Getzin, University of Göttingen International research team led by Göttingen University shows patterned vegetation regenerates by -ecosystem engineering- of the grasses Fairy circles are one of nature's greatest enigmas and most visually stunning phenomena. An international research team led by the University of Göttingen has now, for the first time, collected detailed data to show that Alan Turing's model explains the striking vegetation patterns of the Australian fairy circles. In addition, the researchers showed that the grasses that make up these patterns act as -eco-engineers- to modify their own hostile and arid environment, thus keeping the ecosystem functioning. The results were published in the Journal of Ecology.
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