sorptivers

Sorptivers are a speculative group of organisms defined by a primary mode of nutrition that relies on sorption: the passive uptake and internal storage of dissolved compounds from the surrounding environment through specialized surfaces. They may be unicellular or form simple colonies, and they are distinguished from organisms that obtain energy via ingestion, photosynthesis, or chemosynthesis. The concept appears mainly in speculative biology and science fiction.

Morphology and physiology: Sorptivers are imagined with porous cell envelopes and extensive surface folding to maximize sorption area. Some models describe extracellular matrices that capture dissolved compounds, while internal compartments store absorbed nutrients. If active metabolism exists, it would likely rely on rapid processing of stored substrates rather than on real-time digestion or carbon fixation.

Ecology: In simulations and fictional settings, sorptivers inhabit environments with steady but dilute nutrient supplies, such as peatlands, sediments, saline marshes, or engineered bioreactors meant to test sorption-based life. They may form loose biofilms or simple colonies and participate in nutrient and trace-element cycles by concentrating scarce compounds.

Reproduction and life cycle: Reproduction could occur by budding, fragmentation, or simple fission, enabling spread in favorable microhabitats. Traits related to sorption might be transferred through cell-cell connections in dense communities.

Taxonomic status: Sorptivers are not recognized as a real biological group in current taxonomy; they appear mainly in speculative literature and thought experiments. If observed, such metabolism would prompt reevaluation of energy and nutrient acquisition and could inspire bioremediation concepts in engineered ecosystems.