In the midst of the arid and largely unexplored plains of northeastern Brazil, an archaeological and biological discovery surprised the scientific community. Millions of earth mounds, distributed uniformly over a vast territory, turned out to be the work of a termite colony that has been shaping the landscape for centuries.
Researchers from the University of Salford (United Kingdom) and the Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana (Brazil) analyzed a vast region of the caatinga, a dry ecosystem dominated by thorny scrub. What they found exceeded all expectations: a vast underground network built by termites of the Syntermes dirus species, covering approximately 230,000 square kilometers, equivalent to the size of the United Kingdom.
Using drones, satellite images, and terrain analysis, the scientists identified around 200 million earth mounds, each up to 2.5 meters high and 9 meters in diameter, painstakingly built grain by grain by these insects. In total, the termites would have displaced around 10 million cubic meters of soil, in a feat of unparalleled natural engineering.
An Ancient Subterranean City
Under each mound extends a complex network of tunnels that allows termites to move underground, protected from extreme heat and predators. These tunnels connect foraging areas, facilitating access to leaves and roots without exposing themselves to the harsh desert conditions.
The mounds function as ventilation towers and permanent landmarks in the landscape, showcasing impressive planning without the need for blueprints. Furthermore, dating studies revealed that some of the structures built by termites are up to 3,820 years old, making them one of the oldest constructions made by living beings, even older than many human-built edifices.
How Termites Benefit the Ecosystem
Although they are often seen as pests in urban environments, termites play an essential role in many natural ecosystems. Their environmental impact is broad and positive:
- Enhance soil fertility: by removing and aerating the soil, they promote drainage and nutrient circulation.
- Facilitate decomposition: their feeding habits help decompose organic matter like dry leaves and wood, accelerating nutrient recycling.
- Increase biodiversity: termite mounds can be shelter and habitat for other species, such as insects, reptiles, and small mammals.
- Combat erosion: their structures stabilize the soil and protect it from wind and rain erosion.
In fragile ecosystems like the Brazilian caatinga, where vegetation is scarce and climatic conditions are extreme, termites act as ecological engineers, promoting resilience and sustainability in the environment.
Source: Diario Uno.
