Biodiversity & Ecology

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

9 Patterns Book chapter 9.5 Open Access

Bare areas caused by Hodotermes mossambicus in the northern Namib Desert

Norbert Jürgens* & Felicitas Gunter

Article first published online: 15 December 2022

DOI: 10.7809/b-e.00371

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

<< Volume 7

Biodiversity & Ecology (Biodivers. Ecol.)

Volume 7, pages 286-291, November 2022

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Keywords: Hodotermes, harvester termite, Namib Desert, Fairy circle

Abstract: The harvester termite Hodotermes mossambicus is not regarded as causing fairy circles. On the other hand, the harvester termites forage huge amounts of grass biomass in the Namib Desert and beyond. This article describes quite different patterns caused by Hodotermes mossambicus in the Namib Desert. In addition to the well-known homogeneous foraging pattern this article newly describes hexagonal patterns and rare circular patterns from the Kunene region in northwestern Namibia.

Suggested citation:
Jürgens, N.*, Gunter, F. (2022): Bare areas caused by Hodotermes mossambicus in the northern Namib Desert – In: Schmiedel, U. & Finckh, M. (Eds.) Fairy circles of the Namib Desert – Ecosystem engineering by subterranean social insects. – Biodiversity & Ecology 7: 286-291. DOI: 10.7809/b-e.00371.