Round 22:
Event: The Starks are always right eventually…
Now as temperatures plummet further, the polar glaciers are creeping in toward the equator. Water currents are slowing down planet wide now, and the result is a loss of reliable nutrient flows to reef ecosystems. While the ecosystem would otherwise have collapsed under these pressures, a new type of plant has emerged. This plant (colloquially known as NPC 001) has a thick waxy cuticle that protects it from radiation and maintains its metabolic temperatures reasonably well. It grows thick and large in the reef ecosystem, providing sustenance that will keep the whole system from failing. Additionally, a prey species has developed. This species is effectively a simple flat worm that will not support great size in its predator’s numbers. Some have taken to calling it NPC 002.
SkyGuy98: (Passive Glycovore) (Hydrothermal Vents)
Mutation: Fix Chloroplasts (2) [slightly deleterious]
Description: P. cieloviri’s chloroplasts have gotten worse: they now take two times as many resources. This is understandably causing a seriously high death rate among this species’ members.
Previous Mutations:
Chloroplasts {2} (selfish little moochers)
Conservation Status: EN
Robotranicrex: (Secondary Consumer [carnivore]) (Coral Reef)
Mutation: Arsenic Toxin Resistance (4) [success]
Description: D. roborexi has developed a level of resistance to I. atroxi’s arsenic based toxins. This resistance, while offering a competitive edge compared to other predators of the species, is still laughable in the face of the toxin’s potency. This species is still the dominant predator, although its competition is diversifying and may prove challenging in the future.
Previous Mutations:
Flagella {5}
Mitochondria {5}
Vacuole {5}
Phagocytosis {4}
Binding Proteins {6}
Communication Molecules {1} (anti attracting)
Communication Molecules {5}
Vascular System {6}
Heart {5}
Nervous System {5}
Muscular System {4}
Digestive System {7} (compartmentalized through-gut)
Improve Muscles {2} (actin structural failure)
Improve Muscles {6}
Low pressure Tolerance {7}
Exoskeleton {5}
Primitive Brain {1} (constant seizures)
Fix Nerve Cluster {4} (less constant seizures)
Anti-freeze Proteins {4}
Conservation Status: VU
Unknown: (Secondary Consumer [omnivore]/Primary Producer [photoautotroph]) (Continental Shelf to Surface Waters)
Mutation: Water Electrolysis (4) [slightly less than requested]
R: CO2 Sac into Hydrogen Sac (2) [slightly deleterious]
Description: A subset of S. obscurus’ neurons have begun to gather into an electrolyzing organ. Here, water from the diet is collected, and a current is run through it. The organ however, is fairly inelegant and lacks effective electrode materials, meaning that the reaction is slow and requires a great deal of energy to succeed. The species’ CO2 containing organ has been converted to hold the hydrogen stored from this reaction, however its physiology has suffered a defect and it tends to rupture frequently. Between the hydrolysis and the frequent rupture of the hydrogen sac, this species loses energy quickly and is well on its way to extinction.
Previous Mutations:
Flagella {5}
Mitochondria {5}
Cilia {4}
Horizontal Gene Transfer {4}
Predatory Pilus {5}
Low Pressure Tolerance {5}
Eyespot {2} (diffuse Opsins)
Eyespots {5}
Communication Disruption Toxins [Atrox-4]
CO2 Vacuoles {6}
Robotranicrex's Binding Proteins {4}
Communication Proteins {4}
Atrox's Circulatory System {4}
Central CO2 Vacuole {4}
Robotranicrex's Digestive System {6} Melanin {5}
Robotranicrex’s Nervous System {4}
Omnivorous Specialization {5}
Unknown’s Longisquama’s Chloroplasts {6}
Eyes {4} (ocular depressions)
SkyGuy98’s Muscles {4}
SkyGuy98’s Heart {6}
Anti-freeze Proteins {6}
Conversation Status: CR
Bigyihsuan: (Secondary Consumer [omnivore]/Primary Producer [photoautotroph]) (Continental Shelf to Surface Waters)
Mutation: Arsenic Toxin Resistance (2 + 1 [least fit] = 3) [no effect]
R: Atrox’s Arsenic Toxin (4) [success]
Description: S. hsuani has obtained the genes that encode I. atroxi’s arsenic based toxins. This means that whenever another species consumes s. hsuani it suffers the consequences. This species however, has no natural predators so it gains little advantage. It’s failure to successfully develop resistance to this same toxin is also leading to a loss of competitive edge against other predators in the ecosystem however its numbers are remaining stable for now.
Previous Mutations:
Flagella {5}
Mitochondria {5}
Cilia {4}
Horizontal Gene Transfer {4}
Predatory Pilus {5}
Low Pressure Tolerance {5}
Eyespot {2} (diffuse Opsins)
Eyespots {5}
Communication Disruption Toxins [Atrox-4]
CO2 Vacuoles {6}
Robotranicrex's Binding Proteins {4}
Communication Proteins {4}
Atrox's Circulatory System {4}
Central CO2 Vacuole {4}
Robotranicrex's Digestive System {6} Melanin {5}
Robotranicrex’s Nervous System {4}
Omnivorous Specialization {5}
Unknown’s Longisquama’s Chloroplasts {6}
Eyes {4} (ocular depressions)
SkyGuy98’s Muscles {4}
SkyGuy98’s Heart {6}
Anti-freeze Proteins {6}
Conservation Status: EN
Atrox: (Primary Consumer [herbivore]) (Pelagic Waters)
Mutation: Thermoreception (6) [better than requested]
One-time: Heat Tolerance (7) [super mutaton]
R: Legs (1) [opposite of request]
Description: I. atroxi has developed a robust ability to sense thermal radiation. An organ has developed that rings its sac gut, which contains molecules highly able to absorb infrared radiation. This allows the species to track great sources of heat, and is leading to a mass migration back toward the hydrothermal vents. Additionally, the species has developed the capacity to withstand an incomprehensible level of heat, somehow being able to survive above the boiling point of water. It has however, developed the multicellular equivalent of its old spikey cilia of doom. The legs that grow from its sides are long, rigid, and immobile. This produces several situations where the species is either eaten due to slowness, or loses blood when a “leg” breaks off. Between this and the transit back to the vents, this species is experiencing seriously low population numbers. [First to three senses (eyespots, nervous system, thermoreception)]
Previous Mutations:
Mitochondria {1}
Improved Mitochondria {7}
Cilia {1} (spiky poles of doom)
Flagella {4}
Bracing Proteins {4}
Phagocytosis {5}
Vertical Gene Transfer {4}
Signaling Chemicals {5}
Fixed Cilia {4}
Binding Proteins {5}
Low Pressure Tolerance {4}
Improved Circulatory System {7} (lymph nodes and proto kidneys)
Nervous System {4}
Digestive System {5}
Anti Parasite Armor {1} [parasite attracting]
Muscle Fibers {6}
Eyespots {2} (not exactly spots, so much as whole body covering)
Arsenic Toxin [1]
Arsenic Toxin [6]
Arsenic Toxin [12]
Anti-freeze Proteins {6}
Fix the Exoskeleton {6}
Conservation Status: CR
Evolution4Weak: (Passive Thermosynthesizer) (Hydrothermal Vents)
Mutation: Mitochondria (5 + 1 [most fit] = 6) [better than requested]
Description: M. eniminfirmus has developed a symbiotic relationship with mitochondrial bacteria near the vents. These bacteria are able to take the sugars synthesized by the species’ thermoplasts and produce high amounts of ATP.
Previous Mutations:
Thermoplasts {7} (I screwed up and described these as mitochondria suffice it to say they’re really good)
Conservation Status: NT
Achievements:
First to Reach Land: One additional vote that will have a +2 applied to it.
First to Have Three Senses: A guaranteed super mutation. [Atrox]
First to Have Five Senses: A guaranteed super mutation.
First to Have Five Defensive Measures: A guaranteed super mutation.
First to Have Five Offensive Measures: A guaranteed Super Mutation.
State of the Ecosystem:
SkyGuy98: [E/K: Glucose] [EB/KB: Random Cells]
Robotranicrex: [E/K: NPC 002] [EB/KB: None]
Unknown: [E/K: NPC 002] [EB/KB: None]
Bigyihsuan: [E/K: NPC 002] [EB/KB: None]
Atrox: [E/K: None] [EB/KB: None]
Evolution4Weak: [E/K: Heat Energy] [EB/KB: Random Cells]