superorganism
Unified insect society
A superorganism is a colony or group of organisms that functions as a single integrated unit.
The term applies especially to social insects—ant colonies, beehives, termite mounds—where individual members perform specialized roles like cells in a body.
Some extend the concept to human societies or ecosystems: The city operates as a superorganism, with transportation networks as its circulatory system.
Bee dwelling structure
- ant colonySocial insect community
- termite moundNest built from soil
- swarmMass of moving insects
- queenMost powerful chess piece
bee colony · worker · drone · caste · division of labor · nest · cooperation · collective behavior
Two-way biological benefit
- commensalismNeutral host, benefiting guest
- parasitismOne benefits, one suffers
- coral reefCalcium carbonate marine ecosystem
- lichenSymbiotic rock dweller
microbiome · gut flora · mitochondria · host · interdependence · coevolution · nitrogen fixation · cleaner fish
Emergent group cognition
- self-organizationSpontaneous internal structure emergence
- emergent behaviorPatterns arising from interactions
- swarm intelligenceDecentralized group decision-making
- decentralizedLacking single authority
feedback loop · complex system · network · synchronization · flocking · schooling · resilience · adaptation
All life on Earth
- biogeochemicalLife-geology-chemistry interactions
- homeostasisBiological internal stability maintenance
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- interconnectionMutual joining of parts
hive
Bee dwelling structure
- ant colonySocial insect community
- termite moundNest built from soil
- swarmMass of moving insects
bee colony · queen · worker · drone · caste · division of labor · nest · cooperation · collective behavior · pheromone
mutualism
Two-way biological benefit
- commensalismNeutral host, benefiting guest
- parasitismOne benefits, one suffers
- coral reefCalcium carbonate marine ecosystem
lichen · microbiome · gut flora · mitochondria · host · interdependence · coevolution · nitrogen fixation · cleaner fish · pollinator
collective intelligence
Emergent group cognition
- self-organizationSpontaneous internal structure emergence
- emergent behaviorPatterns arising from interactions
- swarm intelligenceDecentralized group decision-making
decentralized · feedback loop · complex system · network · synchronization · flocking · schooling · resilience · adaptation
biosphere
All life on Earth
- biogeochemicalLife-geology-chemistry interactions
- homeostasisBiological internal stability maintenance
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- biological organizationcell, organ, tissue, organ system, organelle
- ant coloniesqueen ant, worker ant, soldier ant, colony, nest
- social insectsworkers, colony, queen, nest, brood
- collective mindhive mind, hivemind, collective consciousness, collective intelligence, swarm intelligence
- Earth systemsbiosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, geosphere
- hive mindsBorg, collective consciousness, Flood, Unity