Crystalmat

As the range of the colony crystal expanded northwards, they began to settle the edges of Hydro-Barlowe polar sea. However, this population fared poorly in the cold, often dark waters of the polar sea. As a result, new traits were selected for that would ultimately give rise to the crystalmat.

The crystalmat has adapted to the frigid, polar waters of Hydro-Barlowe polar sea. Its mycelial network is thicker and traps more heat than its ancestor. In addition to this, the crystals themselves have become a flat, interlocking mesh of flat, hexagonal scales. This reduces heat loss while adding yet another layer of heat-trapping biomass. Their growth behavior is similar to its southern counterpart: the southern colony crystal. Its growth behavior is very aggressive and opportunistic. As spring arrives on the polar sea, crystalmat spores germinate en masse. They will then rapidly grow their mycelia outwards, congregating around decaying adorbalgae films and piles of rotting crystalmats from the last generation. Wherever the mycelium spreads, the crystalmat’s scale-like crystals grow in shortly after. After everything within two meters of the crystalmat’s center has been consumed, it will fill in the empty spaces within its colony to form an unbroken, two-meter wide mass of crystal-plated mycelia. It will then continue to passively filter-feed until fall arrives. However, crystalmats rarely grow to full size, as individuals often germinate within close proximity to each other. While this results in a seemingly placid carpet of green crystal as far as the eye can see, in reality, the situation is quite the opposite. As crystalmats compete for space, they will attempt to consume neighboring mats within its two-meter radius. Fueled by an endless supply of sunlight and adorbalgae, the crystalmat’s summer months are spent fighting an endless battle for space. As the summer gives way to fall, the war for space quickly subsides as their food runs out. Whatever nutrients remain are used in reproduction. As the mats begin to die back from the lack of light, food, and warmth, they will reproduce endlessly until they die.

In spite of their polar adaptations, the crystalmat has little trouble growing in temperate climates. As a result, they have spread into Barlowe temperate coast, Hydro temperate coast, and Hydro-Barlowe temperate sea. While the populations from Hydro and Hydro-Barlowe have similar life cycles to their polar counterparts, the population in Barlowe temperate coast host behaviors that deviate from the norm. They typically grow on the sides of large crystal flora, encrusting and digesting whatever they grow on. This has caused great harm to the crystal bush and crystal grove populations growing in Barlowe temperate coast. These crystalmat specimens often live shorter lives, as their host often collapses from being digested by the mycelial mass. This results in the death of the crystalmat. Meanwhile, on the ocean floor, the crystalmat has outcompeted its ancestor due to their aggressive growth habit and larger mat size. However, their population is controlled by the chunky knightworm.