Stars and the Magnetic Termite Mounds in Litchfield National Park. The compass termite (Amitermes meridionalis and A. laurensis)

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Stars and the Magnetic Termite Mounds in Litchfield National Park. The compass termite (Amitermes meridionalis and A. laurensis) build tall, wedge-shaped mounds with the long axis oriented approximately north–south, which gives them their common name. This orientation has been experimentally shown to assist thermoregulation. The thin end of the nest faces towards the sun at its peak intensity, hence taking up the least possible heat, and allows these termites to stay above ground where other species are forced to move into deeper below ground areas. This also allows the compass termites to live in poorly drained areas where other species would be caught between a choice of baking or drowning. The column of hot air rising in the aboveground mounds helps drive air circulation currents inside the subterranean network.

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Size: 7134px × 4660px
Location: Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory, Australia
Photo credit: © Juergen Freund / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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