Biodiversity & Ecology

Journal of the Division Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology of Plants , Institute for Plant Science and Microbiology, University of Hamburg.

8 Organisms Book chapter 8

Organisms and their interactions found on, underneath and around fairy circles

Norbert Jürgens, with contributions by Alicia Geppert, Felicitas Gunter, Joh R. Henschel, Katharina J. Huber, Jörg Overmann, Javier Pascual, Johannes Sikorski, Andrey Yurkov

*Corresponding author contact: norbert.juergens@uni-hamburg.de

<< Volume 7

Biodiversity & Ecology (Biodivers. Ecol.)

Volume 7, pages 213-273, November 2022

Abstract: In Chapter 8, we present and discuss various organisms observed on, underneath or around fairy circles. This includes all the grasses that play a role in the vegetation structures arund fairy circles. The current state of knowledge is patchy. Therefore, we adopted slightly diff erent approaches for plants, animals and microorganisms. An original research paper presents the diversity of fungi and bacteria within the diff erent compartments of fairy circles. Descriptions and photos of the involved taxa of plants and animals are depicted to facilitate future studies. Interactions among species and biocoenoses are addressed in a limited number of cases, depending on available information.

Suggested citation:
Jürgens, N., with contributions by Geppert, A., Gunter, F., Henschel, J.R., Huber, K.J., Overmann, J., Pascual, J., Sikorski, J., Yurkov, A. (2022): Organisms and their interactions found on, underneath and around fairy circles – In: Schmiedel, U. & Finckh, M. (Eds.) Fairy circles of the Namib Desert – Ecosystem engineering by subterranean social insects. – Biodiversity & Ecology 7: 213-273.