A method is disclosed for adaptably maintaining a taxonomy defined by a plurality of nodes arranged hierarchically. The method determines a threshold access value for each node of the plurality of nodes, determines a level of access value for each node of the plurality of nodes, compares the level of access value for a first node of the plurality of nodes with the threshold access value for the first node of the plurality of nodes, and if the level of access value for the first node is less than the threshold access value for the first node, merges the first node with a related node arranged laterally to the first node in the hierarchical arrangement, and compares the level of access value for the first node of the plurality of nodes with the threshold access value for a second node of the plurality of nodes, and if the level of access value for the first node is greater than the threshold access value for the second node, promotes the first node to a higher level in the hierarchical arrangement than the second node, and if the level of access value for the first node is less than the threshold access value for the second node, demotes the first node to a lower level in the hierarchical arrangement than the second node.