Cryophytes

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Cryophytes
Main image of Cryophytes
Species is extant.
Information
CreatorMnidjm Other
Week/Generation23/149
HabitatGlobal (Sagan 4)
Size10 μm - 15 μm Wide Cells; 80 μm - 100 μm Long Chains
Primary MobilityUnknown
SupportCell Membrane
DietPhotosynthesis, Chemoorganoheterotroph
RespirationCellular Respiration
ThermoregulationEctothermic
ReproductionMitosis
Taxonomy
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Eukaryota
Kyanozoa
Kyanophyta
Cryosaganopsida
Cryosaganales
Ancestor:Descendants:

The cryophytes are a primitive branch of Sagan 4 life. First arising in the Ladymian period, they have since proliferated to form the base of many polar and alpine food chains. Their primary trait is their ability to live within very cold environments such as the extreme polar latitudes, mountains, or even deep underground in ice caves. While similar to their relatives the kyanos and its descendants, they can be distinguished by their less structurally complex cellular structure, including the lack of cell walls, and their flagella that allow them mobility the kyanoses lack. Each individual cell has at least two flagella, which together allow them to swim around in a random fashion. They are reliant on water to survive, but can live in both cold seawater and freshwater ice.

They derive their color from the blue-green chloroplast analogs and utilize their flagella to keep them in the light. During the long winters or times of poor nutrition the cryophytes it will go dormant. Most form long chains of cells, however the speccies descended from sphrioo form a shperoidal shape to help them with locomotion. While the majority of species are reliant on sunlight to facilitate photosynthesis, some species have adapted to subterranean living. Those derived from the cavern cryosagania have specialized into a symbiotic relationship with the local swarmers. While not bright enough to support photosynthesis, they utilize the light to find spots of organism waste material. These swarmers benefit by having a readily available supply of food. They eat the waste of the detritivores and scavengers within the subterranean environments, and are eaten by swarmers in return. When their predators are eaten by higher predators such as other swarmers or teuropins, their waste is used as fertilizer for the cryophytes, completing the cycle. When there are no swarmers around they will either attempt to migrate towards the surface, go dormant, or keep consuming organic particles until they exhaust them. This relationship has developed so thoroughly that it has allowed the species of the Yannick Ice Caves to spread throughout the water table.

When reproducing via mitosis, they will split on the boom of the last one, making cone like chains out of their disc shaped cells. During the course of their lives, they will continually grow, eventually dying off at the tips. They sometimes break apart, forming new cone chains. In optimal conditions the blooms can be large enough to dye the soil or water a deep, rich teal color.

Relationship With Other Species

The following species have spread to the Fermi Water Table:

Integrated Species

Family Cryosaganaceae

Family Geliglobulaceae

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