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Reply to: Australian fairy circles and termite linyji are not caused by the same mechanism

Nature Ecology & Evolution volume 8, pages 206–208 (2024)Cite this article

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The Original Article was published on 02 January 2024

replying to S. Getzin et al. Nature Ecology & Evolution https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02225-3 (2024)

In their recent communication, Getzin et al.1, referring to our paper2, state that the bare patches that they observed near Newman in Western Australia (fairy circles, FC) are a rare phenomenon. They distinguished three characteristics of the FCs: (1) size, (2) extremely regular, spatially periodic pattern and (3) lack of correlation with subterranean termites, although they write that termites can occur in coincidence and contribute to the absence of vegetation. Getzin et al. consider termite-induced vegetation gaps to be smaller, often irregularly shaped and not spatially periodic, whereas we gave evidence that Australian ‘fairy circles’ are termite structures and their uniform patterns in grasslands are widespread.

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Fig. 1: Knowing termite pavements.

References

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Acknowledgements

In addition to the people and organizations acknowledged in Walsh et al.2, we thank K. Doederer, helicopter pilot and chemical engineer, for photo records of pavement patterns in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fiona Walsh Ecology, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia

    Fiona Walsh

  2. School of Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia

    Fiona Walsh, Matilda Nelson & Carolyn Oldham

  3. Martumili Artists, Newman, Western Australia, Australia

    Gladys Karimarra Bidu, Ngamaru Karimarra Bidu, Thelma Milangka Judson, Muuki Karimarra Taylor, Desmond Purungu Taylor & Carol Milangka Williams

  4. School of Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia

    Theodore A. Evans

  5. Biota Environmental Sciences, Leederville, Western Australia, Australia

    Peter Kendrick

  6. Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia

    Danae Moore & Josef Schofield

  7. Arthur Rylah Institute, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia

    Ashley Sparrow

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Contributions

Processes and content of this reply were discussed with all Martu co-authors, except N.K.B. and M.K.T. who remain knowledge contributors (thus co-authors) at the request of other Martu co-authors. This reply was drafted and reviewed by A.S., C.O., F.W. and T.A.E. and reviewed by D.M., J.S. and P.K. Warlpiri co-authors of Walsh et al.2 are not co-authors of this reply as it focuses on the Newman region in Western Australia, which is far from Warlpiri country.

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Correspondence to Fiona Walsh.

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Walsh, F., Bidu, G.K., Bidu, N.K. et al. Reply to: Australian fairy circles and termite linyji are not caused by the same mechanism. Nat Ecol Evol 8, 206–208 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02231-5

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