Collectable Species
2025-09-29 12:40
STATUS:
TAGS:
Collectable Species
| Species | Type | Environmental Issue | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chernobyl Black Fungus (Cladosporium sphaerospermum) | Fungi | Nuclear Radiation | Uses melanin to convert deadly gamma radiation into energy through radiosynthesis; grows toward radiation sources |
| Cryptococcus (Cryptococcus neoformans) | Fungi | Nuclear Radiation | Melanin-rich fungus increases biomass 500x in high radiation; converts radiation to chemical energy |
| Black Mold (Wangiella dermatitidis) | Fungi | Nuclear Radiation | Thrives in nuclear reactor cooling water; enhanced electron transfer in melanin when exposed to radiation |
| Tardigrades (Hypsibius henanensis) | Animal | Nuclear Radiation | Microscopic 'water bears' survive extreme radiation; use Dsup protein to protect DNA |
| Parengyodontium album | Fungi | Ocean Plastic | Breaks down polyethylene plastic in the ocean, effective on UV-weathered plastics |
| Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) | Fungi | Soil Pollution | Decomposer fungus degrades diesel, organic contaminants using enzyme processes |
| White-Rot Fungi (Ceriporiopsis subvermispora) | Fungi | Plastic & Soil Pollution | Enzymes degrade lignin-like compounds; breaks down synthetic polymers |
| Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) | Plant | Heavy Metal Pollution | Absorbs lead, arsenic, uranium, radioactive cesium-137; used at Chernobyl and contaminated sites |
| Alpine Pennycress (Thlaspi caerulescens) | Plant | Heavy Metal Pollution | Hyperaccumulates zinc, cadmium, nickel; stores metals in leaves for safe removal |
| Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea) | Plant | Heavy Metal Pollution | Extracts lead, cadmium, copper, zinc from industrial and public soils |
| Willow Trees (Salix spp.) | Plant | Heavy Metal Pollution | Stores heavy metals in roots; absorbs zinc from polluted water systems |
| Duckweed (Lemna minor) | Plant | Heavy Metal & Water Pollution | Removes lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium; reduces pathogen levels in water |
| Azolla (Azolla filiculoides) | Plant | Heavy Metal Pollution | Aquatic fern removes mercury, lead from water through bioaccumulation |
| Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) | Plant | Water Pollution | Removes heavy metals, E. coli, Salmonella, and nutrients from water |
| Cattail (Typha latifolia) | Plant | Water Pollution | Filters zinc, cadmium, lead, nitrates; creates wetland habitats |
| Warnstofia Moss (Warnstofia fluitans) | Plant | Water Pollution | Reduces arsenic levels in water by 80% in one hour |
| Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) | Plant | Air Pollution | Removes formaldehyde, xylene, benzene; natural humidifier indoors |
| Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) | Plant | Air Pollution | Removes 107 air pollutants including formaldehyde and benzene; releases oxygen at night |
| Lichens (Hypogymnia physodes) | Fungi | Air Pollution | Biomonitors accumulate heavy metals, track pollution levels |
| Marine Oil-Eating Bacteria (Alcanivorax spp.) | Bacteria | Oil Pollution | Dominates microbial population during spills; breaks down crude oil and hydrocarbons |
| Earthworms (Lumbricus spp.) | Animal | Soil Health & Carbon | Create carbon traps, enhance soil structure for sequestration |
| Beavers (Castor spp.) | Animal | Wetland Restoration | Engineer wetlands storing carbon, creates fire/drought-resistant landscapes |
| Mycorrhizal Fungi Networks | Fungi | Carbon Sequestration | Network sequesters up to 13 Gt CO2 annually; supports soil carbon pools |
| Kelp Forests (Saccharina latissima) | Plant | Ocean Acidification/Carbon | Reduce ocean acidification, sequester CO2, buffer pH, support shellfish |
| Rhizobium-Legume Systems | Bacteria/Plant | Nitrogen Cycle | Bacterial root nodules fix nitrogen for soil fertility, reducing need for fertilizer |
| Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) | Plant | Pest Control | Active trap plant digests pests over several days, controls flies/gnats |
| Sundews (Drosera spp.) | Plant | Pest Control | Sticky-leaf plants trap gnats, flies, fleas; natural warning and control system |
| Butterworts (Pinguicula spp.) | Plant | Pest Control | Sticky leaves capture and digest insects, especially gnats |
| Pitcher Plants (Nepenthes spp.) | Plant | Pest Control | Liquid traps drown and digest insects, control flying pests indoors |
| African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) | Animal | Ecosystem Carbon Storage | Disperse seeds, create clearings, support biodiversity and carbon storage |
| American Bison (Bison bison) | Animal | Ecosystem Carbon Storage | Grazing increases soil carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling |
| Gray Wolves (Canis lupus) | Animal | Ecosystem Carbon Storage | Trophic cascades restore forests, enhance carbon storage |
| Baleen Whales (Mysticeti) | Animal | Ocean Carbon Cycle | Transport nutrients, support marine CO2 sinks |
| Native Wild Bees | Animal | Pollination/Restoration | Pollinate key restoration plants, support biodiversity and sequestration |
| Madagascar Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) | Plant | Medicine | Source of cancer drugs vincristine/vinblastine; leukemia, lymphoma treatment |
| Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) | Plant | Medicine | Source of digoxin for heart rhythm and failure treatment |
| Sweet Wormwood (Artemisia annua) | Plant | Medicine | Source of artemisinin (malaria treatment) |
| Willow Bark (Salix alba) | Plant | Medicine | Source of salicin (aspirin); treats pain, fever |
| Turmeric (Curcuma longa) | Plant | Medicine | Anti-inflammatory, treats arthritis, boosts liver |
| Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) | Plant | Medicine | Immune booster, cold, flu, wound healing |
| Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) | Plant | Medicine | Antimicrobial for skin infections and fungal conditions |