Kangaroo Rat Excels at Storing Food

Function

The kangaroo rat barely drinks any water, living off of the water found in its food, like seeds. The kangaroo rat stores its seeds in a burrow that has several entrance/exit points, which the kangaroo rat covers in order to maintain the burrow’s humidity. The burrow contains several small chambers connected by a passage. Food storage chambers measure approximately 25cm in diameter, and can store up to 6kg of seeds. The chambers that are farthest from the entrance/exit points contain the least moisture, while those closer to the surface of the ground are extremely damp, allowing for mold and fungus to grow. The kangaroo rat is extremely sensitive to changes in humidity levels, and it uses this skill to choose the most appropriate storage chamber for its seeds in order to prevent loss.

Functional Classification

Resouce/Energy/Information Collection & Storage:
Water recoveryWater retention
Efficiency(Energy Saving, Resource Saving, Light):
Efficient arrangement
Defense/Stability:
Humidification

Environmental Solution Classification

Related Literature

STACKING OF SEEDS CHANGES SPOILAGE DYNAMICS OF FOOD CACHES OF THE BANNER-TAILED KANGAROO RAT (DIPODOMYS SPECTABILIS)José Herrera, Kari L. Ensz, and Amy L. Wilke Journal of Mammalogy 2001

Technical Application

Products and Services

Type of Business

Proposals of Applied Technology

Since long ago, Japan has had the technology to store produce underground using methods similar to those of the kangaroo rat. The Japanese stored produce, mostly root vegetables such as daikon radish and sweet potatoes, in cellars dug deep into the ground. Many of these cellars have only one storage room, with no way to control humidity levels or change the food’s storage environment. Miso, natto (fermented soybeans), pickled vegetables, and cheese are all examples of fermented food products that are indispensable to our daily lives. These foods depend upon many types of microbes and certain moisture levels for fermentation. Using the model of the kangaroo rat’s multi-chamber burrow, we may be able to store many kinds of fermented food products for long periods of time by moving them into rooms with appropriate humidity levels. The kangaroo rat’s burrow can also be used to create long-term storage, as well as a produce storage system that does not use electricity.

Proposals of Applied Industry

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