A kinetotroph or kinetic harvester is a hypothetical organism that would use kinetic energy to produce complex molecules like adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Kinetotrophs could obtain their energy from numerous sources like wind, tides, or currents; this would allow them to inhabit locations with minimal light for photosynthesis.[1] Kinetotrophs could descend from chemotrophs, and have been hypothesized to take the form of sedentary ciliates and reed-like organisms.[2]
There are no known kinetotrophs on Earth, likely because the process is less efficient than other sources of energy like light or chemicals.[2] However, similar transducer systems have been observed in some organisms. For example, some fish possess a lateral line organ, which uses cilia to turn the movement of fluid into electric signals.[3]