What are the Functions of Sandworms in the World of Dune?

In the film Dune, alongside its epic battle scenes, the Big Dumb Objects (BDO) stand out as captivating elements, with sandworms being one of the most intriguing. The presence of sandworms enriches the film's visual spectacle while offering audiences deeper insights into the mysteries and powers of nature. Sandworms play a pivotal role in altering the ecological balance of the entire Dune world.

Sand plankton→Sand trout→Sandworms

A sandworm begins its lifecycle as sand plankton. Sand planktons are microscopic organisms that feed on Melange. On eating Melange, sand planktons mature into sand trout and eventually sandworms.

Sand trout, ranging from a few centimeters to over a meter in length, thrive in the deserts of Arrakis, akin to larvae of metamorphosing insects on Earth. They rely on water to produce pre-spice mass, and as water is depleted from the area, the land becomes barren and eventually becomes a desert. Consequently, if other life forms in the region diminish due to desertification, sand trout cannot extract nutrients from their decomposing bodies. In such cases, a small portion of sand trout undergoes mutation and transitions to the next stage: sandworms.

Sandworm, also called Shai-Hulud by the Fremen, is a gigantic annelid organism that lives on planet Arrakis. The sandworms produce Spice Melange, the most crucial commodity in the known universe. Sandworms can grow up to 400 meters in length and 40 meters in width and are one of the largest organisms in the known universe. With tough orange-colored skin forming an armor of protection, a sandworm is like a moving fortress. The creatures move by burrowing through the soil with their teeth like drills.

Sandworms are colossal and possess formidable vitality and destructive power. Roaming freely across the Dune world, they dive into the sands and emerge, bringing endless dynamism to the landscape.

Functions

【Oxygen】

Despite mainly being covered in sand, Arrakis lacks vegetation but not oxygen. This unique ecological structure is sustained by sandworms, regarded as the guardians of Dune by the Fremen, making them a vital component of Arrakis's ecosystem.

With sandworms producing intense heat, they create oxygen for the nearly plant-less Arrakis, laying the foundation for the planet's carbon-oxygen cycle. However, unlike Earth's plants that rely on photosynthesis, sandworms must consume vast quantities of matter to fuel themselves.

【Nutrient Cycle】

Upon death, sandworms decompose into nutrients, further nourishing other flora and fauna, forming the most significant and critical ecological cycle on the planet.

【Spice Melange】

Sand trout absorb vast amounts of water using their water-storage cells, continuously ingesting microorganisms. They then mix their metabolic waste with water, fermenting inside their bodies to produce a substance known as pre-spice mass. This material is excreted through their digestive systems, accumulating underground. When pressure builds up due to the gas emitted by the mass, it triggers a massive eruption known as the spice blow. This explosion brings a significant amount of pre-spice mass to the surface, which eventually becomes spice melange under the sun and wind.

Spice melange continuously unlocks human potential in various aspects. Spice melange is necessary for interstellar navigation due to the spacing guild navigators, who require a significant intake of spice melange to maintain their "prescient" state while working.

【Cryskinfe】

With mouths filled with sharp teeth resembling those of great white sharks, sandworms can swallow entire spice melange harvesting machines. The Fremen use sandworm's teeth to craft their iconic weapon, the Cryskinfe.

【Water of Life】

Sandworms must live in extremely arid environments where water is lethal to them. They feed on microorganisms in the sand, akin to blue whales feeding on krill on Earth, ingesting large amounts of sand and digesting the organisms within. Water is fatal to sandworms; its presence causes a rapid metabolic rate, resulting in their agonizing death. The liquid flowing out of their bodies becomes a lethal toxin, known as the "water of life" in Fremen belief. The water of life is essentially a poisonous liquid soaked with sandworm larvae corpses. It allows the drinker to achieve a shared collective wisdom with the tribal community. While deadly to females, it is generally fatal to males.

In conclusion, as integral ecosystem components, sandworms impact the planet's ecological balance by providing oxygen and nutrients for flora and fauna, generating Spice Melange, and serving as a symbol of Fremen culture. From this perspective, sandworms are not just peculiar creatures in the film but indispensable elements of the entire Dune world's ecosystem.