Floats keep fronds buoyant: bull kelp

1 of 1 Two large floats of Nereocystis luetkeana / Jomegat / License

The fronds of giant kelp are kept at or near the sea surface via gas-filled floats.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

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Biomimetic Application Ideas

Utilize water surfaces for placement of man-made solar collectors.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Gas-filled floats keep [kelp] fronds at or near the sea surface." (Koehl 1977:1067)

About the inspiring organism

Bull kelp
Nereocystis luetkeana (Mertens) Postels & Ruprecht
[Seatron, bull kelp]

IUCN Red List Status: Unknown
Habitat(s): Marine Coastal/Supratidal

Some organism data provided by: AlgaeBase
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Utilize water surfaces for placement of man-made solar collectors.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Solar collectors

bioWAVE™ - Power Generation

References

Koehl, M. A. R. ; Wainwright, S. A. 1977. Mechanical adaptations of a giant kelp. Limnol. Oceanogr. 22: 1067-1071.

Floats keep fronds buoyant: bull kelp

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