UM-Bot Posted June 26, 2014 #1 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Scientists believe that plants, not animals, are responsible for the strange vegetation-topped mounds. Found across the American prairies and in other countries all over the world, these unexplained topographical anomalies have been the subject of scientific debate and study for years. Read More: http://www.unexplain...eated-by-plants Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundew Posted June 26, 2014 #2 Share Posted June 26, 2014 It is probably a combination of erosion of the surrounding area and accretion of debris with in the mound, with the plants acting as a wind trap for sand, leaves, etc. The breakdown of organic material within the mound would act as a natural fertilizer creating over time taller plants and making the wind trap more efficient, especially towards the center of the mound. I would expect that in areas with a strong prevailing wind direction, the mounds would be elongated rather than circular. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplos Posted June 26, 2014 #3 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Makes sense to me. I'm sure it would be easy to tell if it was gophers... just dig one up. I have to say that I first read the thread title as, "Mystery 'mima' sounds created by plants" and was very interested to hear a recording of plants going, "Mimmma.. mimmmaaa...." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Hammerclaw Posted June 26, 2014 #4 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Calls to mind how native americans farmed. They planted corn on fields of mounds and beans and squash on the ground between as additional crops and a way to retain moisture in the soil and control weeds. Native American agriculture was gardening on a grand scale. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyOtherAccount Posted June 26, 2014 #5 Share Posted June 26, 2014 (edited) Strange... While growing up in Northwest Arkansas I was told that instead of trenching around a tee-pee mounds were built on which to construct a tee-pee. (Would make for a awkward sleeping position being on top of a small, round hill.) However, when I was a young adult--I believe it was the Forest Service guide who told us--I was told it was a result of erosion as in natural cycles of periods like the "Dust Bowl" days. The solution to keeping your top soil after that was each state's Agriculture Dept. and groups like Arbor Day supplying people, primarily farmers, with free trees to plant along property lines.That would be wind breaker interrupting the wind pattern. That seemed right and logical to me. If it is, then why would scientists search for any other reason? I am tongue tied, speechless, unable to say anything, completely bewildered, stunned, in awe, smitten, a-taken-back, devastated, undone, without hope, unsalvage-able, mistaken, and like my friend the dairyman, udderly disappointed. What would ET do? Edited June 26, 2014 by MyOtherAccount Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Hammerclaw Posted June 27, 2014 #6 Share Posted June 27, 2014 (edited) Native Americans didn't use plows to rip the earth open. They planted the three sisters in the east (corn, beans, squash) on mounds not unlike those in the picture, with sticks using fish heads for fertiliser. European style farming on the plains destroyed the root system of the native grasses, and when drought came there was nothing to hold the topsoil in place. Edited June 27, 2014 by hammerclaw 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paranomaly Posted June 27, 2014 #7 Share Posted June 27, 2014 Can this phenomenon be linked to fairy circles? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent Trinity Posted June 30, 2014 #8 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Well, sounds like a logical explanation, a well thought out one too it seems! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rei4ever Posted August 4, 2014 #9 Share Posted August 4, 2014 Nature always finds a way!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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