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Scientists in South Africa have discovered the world ’s oldest jazz active termite mounds , which have been occupied for tens of G of twelvemonth .
" late carbon 14 dating has revealed that these mounds are far older than any previously known , with some see as far back as 34,000 years — that ’s older than the iconic cave paintings in Europe and even older than the Last Glacial Maximum , when vast ice sheets overlay much of the northern hemisphere,“Michele Francis , the jumper cable author of the study write in May in the journalScience of the Total Environment , said ina statement .
Scientists have discovered the world’s oldest termite mounds in Namaqualand. The mounds were covered in spring flowers that bloomed in the nutrient-rich soil.
The massive insect dwelling was discovered along the bank of the Buffels River in Namaqualand , a region along the west coast of South Africa where around 20 % of the landscape is cover by such hammock . The residents of these ancient " little James Jerome Hill , " send for " heuweltjies " in Afrikaans , are southerly reaper termites ( Microhodotermes viator ) . As they go about their daily forage , these termite collect man of Sir Henry Wood that they summate to their nests . Over the year , these constitutional materials pile up and form a carbon paper - rich reservoir .
An earlierstudyby Francis , who is an environmental scientist at Stellenbosch University , and her squad estimated that each termite mound could harbor about 15 slews ( 14 metric tons ) of carbon copy .
So Francis was concerned in understand how groundwater , the atmosphere and the soil in these small mound interact to interlace away so much carbon . To do so , the team conducted a chemical psychoanalysis of the termite hills and qualify the chemical substance physical process that shift atmospheric carbon into the tiny pitcher’s mound . They get that as white ant harvest constitutive material and bring them into their nest , they vex the grime and make it well-off for body of water to infiltrate . Microbes in the dirt then convince these hoard of carboninto calcium carbonate , past research found .
During grave rains , calcium carbonate in the mounds then chemically reacts with carbonaceous acid , which forms when atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolves in rainwater . The chemical substance cascade increase thesequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide .
This process locks young carbon about 3 feet ( 1 meter ) below the surface in long - term storage , Francis wrote inThe Conversation .
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" By studying these mound , scientists can gain a better agreement of how to battle climate modification , utilizing nature ’s own cognitive process for carbon sequestration , " she said in the statement .
The scientist guess the old age of these termite mounds through radiocarbon see . The previously discoveredoldest termite pitcher plant in Brazilwere 4,000 years old .
" The discovery of the world ’s old termite hill in Namaqualand is a testament to the incredible history hide beneath our foot , " Francis order in the command . " These mounds not only reset the past but also offer vital clues for our future . As we retain to uncover the secrets of these ancient structures , they digest as a reminder of the fragile interplay between climate , environment , and life on ground . "
