Plant patterns

Fairy circles in Namibia in the rainy season. Photo: Dr. Stefan Getzin

The mystery of the fairy circles

Integrating coping mechanisms of ecosystems makes it possible to deal with drought conditions
Fairy circles in the Namibrand Reserve in Namibia in the rainy season. The average diameter of the circles is about six meters. Photo: Dr. Stefan Getzin

The fairy circles - how the plants' coping with the dryness led to this phenomenon

Researchers from Ben Gurion University offer an innovative explanation for this unique behavior of the fairy circles phenomenon: a combination of phenotypic adaptation at the level of the individual plant, by deepening the roots of the plants into more moist soil layers,