Biomimicry Taxonomy
What is the biomimicry taxonomy?
Break down (28)
- Chemically break down (25)
- Catalyze chemical reactions (1)
Cleave halogens from organic compounds (0)
- Cleave heavy metals from organic compounds (1)
- Other inorganic compounds (2)
- Other organic compounds (19)
- Multiple organisms interact: soil ecosystem
- Multiple organisms strip nutrients: forests
- Enzymes allow cellulose digestion: bacteria
- Enzymatic liquid digests insects: green pitcher-plant
- Cellulose digested for fuel: protozoans
- Enzyme oxidizes fat-soluble organic chemicals: animals
- Organisms work together to decompose cellulose: earthworm
- Toxin breaks down tissue: Mycobacterium ulcerans
- VOCs used as carbon and energy source: fungus
- Enzymes help break down plant cell walls: Bacillus bacteria
- Organism digests blood: hookworm
- Gut microbes digest cellulose: termites
- Special liquid softens hard cocoon: puss moth
- Bacteria degrade petroleum hydrocarbons: Marinobacter
- Enzyme breaks down hydrocarbons: bacteria
- Chemicals used in defense: termites
- Microorganisms degrade crude oil: bacteria
- Enzyme degrades lignin: Trametes fungi
- Extremophile converts fatty-acids into energy: bacteria
- Polymers (2)
- Physically break down (3)
- Abiotic materials (1)
- Biotic materials (2)
- Get, store, or distribute resources (192)
- Capture, absorb, or filter (116)
- Bulk solids (0)
- Chemical entities (19)
- Structures absorb amino acids: potbelly airplant
- Gills exchange oxygen efficiently: fish
- Intestines absorb glucose fast: hummingbird
- Membrane channel lets only some ions in: Streptomyces lividans
- Nitrogen fixed for termites: spirochete bacteria
- Diet compensates for mineral deficiencies: red deer
- Self-medicating prevents disease: rabbits
- Gene transfers enhance photosynthesis: marine viruses
- Kidneys filter impurities: human
- Hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts direct water: bromeliads
- Mounds accumulate calcium carbonate: termites
- Organs detect scent: reptiles
- Membranes desalinate water: mangrove
- Cells detect and sequester toxic copper: Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Tissues absorb nitrogen: haircap moss
- Mechanism concentrates inorganic carbon: diatoms
- Siphon filters seawater: sea squirt
- Rootlets reabsorb nutrients: giant groundsel
- Roots absorb nutrients from dead leaves: cushion plants
- Energy (10)
- Photosynthesis: Cooke's koki'o
- Leaves maximize sun exposure: plants
- Pigment enhances light absorption: tropical plants
- Organisms capture radiation: fungi
- Nest maximizes solar heat absorption: wood ants
- Collective body heat warms nest: wood ants
- Structures maximize light absorption: plants
- Pigment cells absorb incidental light: insects
- Leaves optimize internal state: mangrove
- Crystals draw sunlight into plant: window plants
- Gases (9)
- Nitrogen fixed for termites: spirochete bacteria
- Bubble allows breathing underwater: Potamodytes beetle
- Skin acts as membrane: sea snake
- Spider creates underwater air tank: water spider
- Underhairs provide insulation: merino sheep
- Mechanism concentrates inorganic carbon: diatoms
- Fine filaments absorb oxygen: newt
- Aerating device delivers oxygen: mangroves
- Leaves adjust to changing environment: Common arrowhead
- Liquids (32)
- Nasal surfaces remove water vapor: camel
- Grooves gather water: thorny devil
- Water vapor harvesting: Namib desert beetle
- Electric current reduces friction: common earthworm
- Water absorbed from humid air: brown dog tick
- Roots maximize water uptake: plants
- Hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts direct water: bromeliads
- Leaf arrangement collects water: epiphytes
- Pebbles aid dew condensation: Australian mouse
- Ice nucleation captures water: lichen
- Silk protects from flooding, captures water: barking spider
- Trees comb water from clouds: cloud forests
- Leaves survive desiccation: Spanish moss
- Skin protects from dehydration: file snake
- Pressure forces blood from pores: grasshopper
- Density moderates microclimate: alpine sandwort
- Proboscis forms a flexible, sealed cylinder: butterfly
- Pouch scoops and drains water: pink-backed pelican
- Nasal turbinates reduce water loss: northern elephant seal
- Anus absorbs water: woodlice
- Stance and skin channels harvest rainwater: Texas horned lizard
- Setae draw water from mud: marsh crab
- Leaves channel dew as water source: Welwitschia
- Wiry tangles capture fog: lichens
- Suckers steal water and nutrients: Australian Christmas tree
- Flexible stalk adjusts to flow forces: Styela sea squirt
- Concentrated form reduces water requirements: frogs
- Hydration increases internal pressure: legumes
- Leaves capture water: bromeliads
- Roots absorb moisture from humid air: orchids
- Pressure sucks moisture from soil: desert plants
- Concentrating blood lightens weight: vampire bats
- Ribbon-like roots absorb moisture: Taeniophyllum orchid
- Organisms (40)
- Hairs cause loss of footing: marsh pitchers
- Walls clog insect feet: pitcherplants
- Filter feeding moves water: Venus flower basket
- Optical illusion may attract insects: titan arum
- Silk tricks insects: spiders
- Pressure allows movement: echinoderms
- Baleen filter food: blue whale
- Noise stuns prey: spinner dolphin
- Sound waves stun prey: bottlenose dolphin
- Lure tricks prey: bolas spider
- Lamellae filter food of different sizes: flamingo
- Specialized gills filter plankton: basking shark
- Glue protects from insect bites: burrowing frog
- Fins funnel food: manta ray
- Bristles and barbs capture minute foods: Calanoid copepods
- Net filters algae: salp
- Kidneys filter impurities: human
- Adhesive glues prey: velvet worms
- Joint aids suspension feeding: sea pen
- Electric organs generate volts: rajid skates
- Electric organs generate volts: electric stargazers
- Electric organs have many purposes: Amazon electric eel
- Electric organ stuns prey, deters attackers: electric catfish
- Detachable bristles immobilize ants: Polyxenid millipede
- Special tongue captures soft prey: long-beaked echidna
- Sensory mucous glands detect prey: platypus
- Bird bill draws food into mouth: sandpiper
- Extra jaws help hold, transport prey: moray eel
- Bill used to filter: roseate spoonbill
- Pouch scoops and drains water: pink-backed pelican
- Poisonous tooth shoots into prey: cone shell
- Malaria vector chosen as preferred prey: jumping spider
- Fine filaments filter water: peacock worm
- Radiating filaments filter water: fanworms
- Siphon filters seawater: sea squirt
- Hair-like structures filter fine materials: fiddler crab
- Tiny capsules trap prey: bladderwort
- Vortex stirs up sediment: phalarope
- Flexible stalk adjusts to flow forces: Styela sea squirt
- Body shape and position direct water current: black flies
- Solid particles (6)
- Distribute (47)
- Energy (4)
- Gases (20)
- Ventilated nests remove heat and gas: mound-building termites
- Nostril cone allows air passage: peregrine falcon
- Burrow shape creates ventilation: prairie dog
- Air scoops provide cooling: ants
- Tracheal system delivers oxygen efficiently: fly
- Air flow system, sacs provide efficient gas exchange: birds
- Cells maximize flexibility, efficiency: vertebrates
- Internal leaf surface increases gas exchange: plants
- Increased surface area improves gas exchange: human
- Lungs efficiently expel air: fin whale
- Tubes help cool muscles, transport gases: insects
- Blood carries oxygen in varied conditions: human
- Breathing occurs even with full mouth: diamondback rattlesnake
- Branching protects from blockages: blue whales
- Radiating shape makes for efficient transport: sea urchin
- Large volumes move through small spaces: common earthworm
- Pressure makes air move: black mangrove
- Aerating device delivers oxygen: mangroves
- Stems move air: Phragmites australis
- Body shape and position direct water current: black flies
- Liquids (22)
- Vascular systems transport fluids and solutes: plants
- Valves handle high pressures: humans
- Pressure assists blood circulation: giraffe
- Xylem conduits transport water: plants
- Branching pattern enhances exchange and transport: cypress
- Trees generate pressure: oaks
- Pressure forces blood from pores: grasshopper
- Rod-like reinforcements provide strength: plants
- Blood cells circulate in viscous blood: dromedary camel
- Bird bill draws food into mouth: sandpiper
- Body fluids help molt, extend wings: dragonfly
- Mats uniformly distribute resources: black grama grass
- Proboscis forms a flexible, sealed cylinder: butterfly
- Poisonous tooth shoots into prey: cone shell
- Branching protects from blockages: blue whales
- Radiating shape makes for efficient transport: sea urchin
- Elastic blood vessels accommodate pumping: mammals
- Flexible cylinders siphon water: clams
- Large volumes move through small spaces: common earthworm
- Leaves channel water: peppers
- Internal perforations transport nutrients: sphagnum moss
- Vortex stirs up sediment: phalarope
- Solids (1)
- Expel (9)
- Gases (2)
- Liquids (3)
- Solids (4)
- Store (20)
- Bulk solids (0)
- Chemical entities (6)
- Energy (6)
- Gases (3)
- Liquids (5)
- Solid particles (0)
- Maintain community (51)
- Cooperate and compete (5)
- Between (eco)systems (0)
- Between different species (2)
- Within a (eco)system (1)
- Within the same species (2)
- Coordinate (6)
- Activities (2)
- Groups (self-organize) (2)
- Systems (2)
- Provide ecosystem services (40)
- Biological control of populations, pests, diseases (0)
- Control erosion and sediment (5)
- Cycle nutrients (8)
- Multiple organisms strip nutrients: forests
- Bacteria help volatilize and mineralize ammonia: termites
- Mats uniformly distribute resources: black grama grass
- Multiple organisms interact: soil ecosystem
- Feeding behavior increases nitrogen availability: nematodes
- Ecosystem demonstrates sustainability: prairie
- Nurse logs provide new habitat: western hemlock
- Insects digest fecal waste: dung beetles
- Detoxification/purification of air/water/waste (2)
- Disperse seeds (7)
- Tension releases seeds: broom
- Evaporation releases seeds: Brazilian hura trees
- Structures facilitate pollen dispersal: pine trees
- Spring directs spore dispersal in low humidity: horsetail
- Spring directs spore dispersal in high humidity: horsetail
- Lower water content releases seeds: petunia
- Fire opens seed capsules: banksia
- Seedpod autorotates: sycamore
- Generate soil/renew fertility (4)
- Maintain biodiversity (4)
- Pollinate (0)
- Regulate atmospheric composition (0)
- Regulate climate (1)
- Regulate habitat response to disturbance (1)
- Regulate hyrological flows (3)
- Regulate water storage (5)
- Maintain physical integrity (456)
- Manage structural forces (150)
- Chemical wear (0)
- Compression (30)
- Bones self-heal: vertebrates
- Hole structure strengthens bone: horse
- Lightweighting: Scots pine
- Fibers keep tall spikes upright: titan arum
- Leaves given structural support: giant water-lily
- Nest cells support heavy weights: bees and wasps
- Structural composition provides strength in changing conditions: plants
- Rod-like reinforcements provide strength: plants
- Reinforced fibers provide strength: plants
- Lignified parenchyma cells provide strength: plants
- Sclereid cells prevent soft tissue collapse: plants
- Collenchyma cells provide strength, flexibility: plants
- Thickness stabilizes tall trees: baobob
- Fluid protects eggs: birds
- Intricate silica architecture survives forces: diatoms
- Interwoven trees gain structural support: tropical trees
- Cuticle provides protection: arthropods
- Spicules are rigid structural materials: sponges
- Matrix stiffens connective tissue: sponges
- Fibers reinforce hydrostatic skeletons: sunflowers
- Arches provide structural support: termites
- Crystals and fibers provide strength, flexibility: bones
- Circular, tapering beams stabilize: plants
- Shape distributes stress: sea urchin
- Fluid pressure provides support: blue crab
- Pressure provides structural support: blackback land crab
- Buttressing resists uprooting: English oak
- Trusses provide support: Cholla cactus
- Support cells resist compression: nasturtium
- Structure protects against compression loading: staghorn coral
- Creep (0)
- Extreme temperature (60)
- Feathers trap air to provide warmth: emperor penguin
- Down feathers insulate: king eider
- Feather structure insulates: Canada goose
- Compounds protect from extreme cold: a collembola
- Blood flow regulates heat exchange: alligator
- Amphibian withstands freezing: Siberian salamander
- Mound passively heats/cools: compass termite
- Body tissue survives freezing: red bat
- Hibernator survives cold: tenrec
- Glycoprotein prevents ice crystals: Antarctic ice fish
- Glycerol acts as antifreeze: parasitic wasp
- Glucose prevents formation of ice crystals: spring peepers
- Larvae survive freezing: midge
- Large ears aid cooling: elephant
- Worm tolerates temperature gradient of 140 deg F: Pompeii worm
- Antifreeze protects from cold: North American wood frog
- Mechanisms help thermoregulation: bumblebees
- Tubes help cool muscles, transport gases: insects
- Membranes avoid melting: methanogen (thermophile)
- Membranes avoid freezing: bacteria
- Ventilated nests remove heat and gas: termites
- Ventilated nests remove heat and gas: Macrotermes termites
- Varying response thresholds aid hive thermoregulation: honeybee
- Coat changes with the seasons: rock squirrel
- Liver survives cold temperatures: squirrel
- Holes in nest aid temperature regulation: wood ants
- Shape shades and enhances heat radiation: cactus
- Microcolonial fungi adapt to extreme conditions: fungi
- Dehydration helps survive freezing: Arctic springtail
- Pigments cells respond to hormones: African clawed frog
- Seed coat and enzymes protect seed: lotus
- Pouch dissipates heat: pelican
- Gular fluttering dissipates heat: nightjars
- Suspending reproduction conserves energy: insects
- Cryptobiosis protects from extremes: water bear
- Air scoops provide cooling: ants
- Architecture avoids flooding, creates microclimates: ants
- Density moderates microclimate: alpine sandwort
- Cuticle provides protection: arthropods
- Large ears used to cool off: jackrabbit
- Cuticle acts as cooling mechanism: Oriental hornet
- Vibration creates heat: honeybee
- Coat insulates against extreme cold: muskox
- Dense underfur insulates: reindeer
- Underhairs provide insulation: merino sheep
- Fur provides insulation: polar bear
- Sweating aids thermoregulation: mammals
- Waxy coating protects from heat and drought: euphorbia
- Leaves optimize internal state: mangrove
- Furry bracts serve as insulation: lobelia
- Ice in rosette protects bud from frost: lobelia
- Dead leaves function as insulation: giant groundsel
- Antifreeze prevents frost damage: giant groundsel
- Tightly packed stems insulate against cold: cushion plants
- Dense covering protects from cold: snow lotus
- Felt-like covering protects from cold: edelweiss
- Algae protects from freezing: snow algae
- Organism tolerates heat and desiccation: lichen
- Foam provides thermal and moisture control: spittlebug
- Compacted leaves form efficient heat insulation: grass tree
- Impact (15)
- Micro-tile Covered Foam
- Beak design absorbs high-energy impacts: toco toucan
- Bones self-heal: vertebrates
- Intricate silica architecture survives forces: diatoms
- Web absorbs impacts: spiders
- Footpads dampen shock: bush-cricket
- Iron sulphide minerals reinforce scales: golden scale snail
- Insect elytra resist shear and cracking: beetles
- Tissues resist bending under stress: giant green anemone
- Crystals and fibers provide strength, flexibility: bones