Southern Bubblgea

The southern bubblgea replaced their ancestors as the last remaining populations of Bubble Droopgea adapted to the polar south of Sagan 4. They are hardy and slow growing, taking 5 years to reach maturity. They live their younger stage anchored to the seabed, absorbing nutrients and building up stores. Once they reach sufficient size, they detach from the seabed in early spring and begin free-floating. While they are able to continue absorbing nutrients through their root stalks, they are terribly inefficient at this, and can only sustain themselves for another few months. They spend the summer months generating internalized buds within their leaf-like protrusions on the bubble. Once the winter approaches and sunlight decreases to negligible levels, the adult bubblgea dies, sinking to the seabed. If they have drifted to a sufficient location, the internal buds will rupture from their corpses and use its nutrients to feed the next generation.