Aboriginal knowledge could reveal the answer to 'fairy circles' mystery in the WA outback

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-04-04 01:00

Australia; WA; NT

Image by joy engelman from Pixabay

While 'fairy circles' found in grasslands in the WA outback have been considered a mystery by many scientists, local Aboriginal elders have knowledge on the phenomenon dating back many generations. The fairy circles are regularly spaced, hard 'pavement'-like circles in between plants that have been found on Martu country in central WA, as well as in Africa. A team of researchers and elders has documented Martu and Warlpiri oral narratives, investigated local art and looked at soil data, and say the Martu people have long considered these circles, named linyji, to be linked to harvester termites, also known as manyjurr or white ants. The researchers say this shows considering Indigenous knowledge is important to help understand phenomena that may appear mysterious to those who are newer to the area.

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Journal/
conference: Nature Ecology and Evolution

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Organisation/s: The University of Western Australia

Funder: This work was supported by a 2020 Australian Academy of Science Thomas Davies Research Grant for Marine, Soil and Plant Biology (F.W.), UWA School of Engineering (C.O.) and UWA School of Biological Sciences (T.A.E.). Earlier field research (1988–1990) was funded through student awards to F.W. from The University of Western Australia and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.

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