Bloomer

Bloomers are very small algae-like creatures. They take advantage of both the Nitrogen Rich atmosphere, and minerals from the tides. Bloomers have evolved to be smaller than their ancestors as well as live shorter lives, their main advantage to predation is reproduction. When sediment is washed into the water, Bloomers would begin to reproduce in massive numbers, hence their name “Bloomers’’. These blooms are called Colonies. Bloomers convert the Nitrogen in the atmosphere, into Nitrite, using Oxygen from the water to produce energy, unlike their Photosynthesising ancestors. Bloomer colonies usually last around 120 local days, before most of the minerals are taken in and their numbers begin to decrease. This does not completely kill the colonies, but it decreases their numbers exponentially. [Design by Dole Packaged Foods]

Basic Information

Anatomy

Bloomers, like their ancestors have a body made primarily out of a sheet. The sheet is not colored green, due to the lack of chloroplasts. Instead, Viridi species are red colored. Their sheet is a much smaller version of the body plan left behind by Cecilia, having a similar but smaller oval shape. Bloomers have smaller tendrils off the back of their sheets, but they don’t serve a function of movement. The tendrils are left over from their ancestors.

Genetics and Reproduction

When it comes time for a Bloom, Bloomers take in excess minerals and release seeds. The seeds would float around in the mineral rich water, before maturing within days and hatching. The seeds would either join the existing Bloomer colony, or be taken away by tides and spread elsewhere to form other Bloomer colonies.

Ecology and Habitats

Bloomers can be found in shallow waters where fresh sediments from land can wash in and tides can dissolve minerals from land. Those that wash out to deeper water starve.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Nitrogen, Coastal Minerals.

EXTINCT

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Cecilia

Scientific Name

Ruber rudentis

Origin/Ancestry

Phytozoa

Lifespan

0.8 Local Years

Average Height

0.25 cm

Average Length

2 cm