User blog:Unownshipper/Flora and Fauna of Rapture

Creating a self-sufficient society like Rapture takes more than just geothermal energy plants and living spaces capable of withstanding the deep sea ocean pressures. It required plants and animals to create oxygen and food to sustain life.

This blog is intended to help better understand the kind of life the average Rapturiuan lived. What animals were in the city? What plants? What kind of foods were available to eat? What were not?

Here, all the flora and fauna of Rapture will be documented. It's important to note what is and isn't present and how this information is known by the contributor (seen in person or by advertisement, suggested in an Audio Diary, etc.). Speculation is welcome so long as it is backed with reasonable evidence.

Observed

 * Bees. Observed, in abundance, at the Silverwing Apiary. Bees were used to create honey and help pollinate plants.
 * Cats. Many cats are seen; unfortunately, they're all dead. Oscar Calraca stated in Prized Pussycats that cats were not allowed in Rapture, but many are present suggesting they were smuggled in.

Implied

 * Dogs. There are posters labeled "Best Friend" in Farmer's Market advertising dog adoptions. Also, the faint sound of a dog barking can be heard in the ambient music around Artemis Suites.

Absent

 * Cows. Whatever Potted Meat is, it isn't beef. Peach Wilkins stated in Smuggling is a Crime that beef was not available in a place like Rapture, likely because cows consume large amounts of resources.

Observed

 * Rosa Gallica. Julie Langford sends Jack to get a bud of Rosa Gallica, aka the French Rose, for an important experiment.

Implied

 * Coffee Beans. The main ingredient for the EVE-enhancing drink.
 * Peaches. As advertised on Canned Fruit. Various other fruits including apples, pomegranates, pears, grapes, etc. are also suggested. In addition to all the advertisements for fruit companies in Rapture, any of these would be primary ingredients in creating Arcadia Merlot.
 * Pumpkins. Seems rotting in Arcadia and the Farmer's Market.

Absent

 * Tobacco. Whatever Cigarettess are made with, it isn't tobacco. Peach Wilkins stated in Smuggling is a Crime that tobacco was not available in a place like Rapture.

Observed

 * Cheese. Molding cheese is present in stands and on tables around the Farmer's Market. Produced by Milton Fine Quality Cheese and Richard's Farm Fresh Quality Cheese.
 * Honey. Not only are bees present,

Implied

 * Bread Pudding. A sign in front of a restraunt in the Farmer's Market advertises bread pudding as one of its desserts. The most basic recipes for this dish usually include bread, and some combination of ingredients like milk, egg, suet, sugar or syrup, dried fruit, and spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, mace or vanilla, so any of these might also be found in Rapture.