Niche-Partitioning of Edaphic Microbial Communities in the Namib Desert Gravel Plain Fairy Circles

Fairy Circles (FCs) in the Namib Desert, characterized by vegetation-free circular patterns surrounded by grass, have long puzzled scientists. A study published in PLoS ONE provides compelling evidence that edaphic microorganisms play a significant role in their formation and maintenance. Researchers analyzed bacterial and fungal communities across three zones—FC center, margin, and external vegetated soil—using T-RFLP fingerprinting and ANOSIM statistical analysis. The findings revealed distinct microbial communities within FCs compared to surrounding soils, with higher variability observed between the center and margin of each FC. While the study confirms that microorganisms are involved in the FC phenomenon, it remains uncertain whether they directly cause the circles or are a consequence of their existence.

Ramond, J.-B., Pienaar, A., Armstrong, A., Seely, M., & Cowan, D. A. (2014). Niche-Partitioning of Edaphic Microbial Communities in the Namib Desert Gravel Plain Fairy Circles. PLoS ONE, 9(10), e109539. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0109539