Móngafjaedrar
Name means: many feathers
For an organism to increase the chances of its offspring surviving until adulthood, it must acquire more nutrients to either increase the amount of gametes or their energy density. In the case of a Havsfjaeder, it is all about increasing its surface area. This clade of Havsfjaeders accomplished this by becoming a colonial organism. They asexually produce genetic copies of themselves to form a larger structure. Each copy functions as a separate organism capable of surviving on its own, but cooperation is more efficient. Furthermore, all units of the Mångafjaedrar have their internal skeletons fused into a much larger construct. Like their ancestors, their internal structure is riddled with holes, which creates a sizeable cavity within the colony. This space helps the organism distribute nutrients evenly throughout its body. Though certain portions of the organism's interior may be closed off to concentrate nutrients in more important areas.
Due to their colonialism, Mångafjaedrar can reach multiple centuries of age; however, this is only true for the entire colony, not individual units. An old age for a sessile organism inadvertently allowes unicellularSolätare to accumulate on its surface, thus reducing the feeding area. Resolving the issue would require the organism to either outgrow the Solätare or actively combat them through chemical means. Nevertheless, both methods require energy and resources, which could come from newly realized growth or by allocating some away from growth. Two groups will therefore form: one that enlarges quickly and perishes before being enveloped by Solätare, and another that grows slowly but holds back the Solätare until their long lifespan runs out.
For an organism to increase the chances of its offspring surviving until adulthood, it must acquire more nutrients to either increase the amount of gametes or their energy density. In the case of a Havsfjaeder, it is all about increasing its surface area. This clade of Havsfjaeders accomplished this by becoming a colonial organism. They asexually produce genetic copies of themselves to form a larger structure. Each copy functions as a separate organism capable of surviving on its own, but cooperation is more efficient. Furthermore, all units of the Mångafjaedrar have their internal skeletons fused into a much larger construct. Like their ancestors, their internal structure is riddled with holes, which creates a sizeable cavity within the colony. This space helps the organism distribute nutrients evenly throughout its body. Though certain portions of the organism's interior may be closed off to concentrate nutrients in more important areas.
Due to their colonialism, Mångafjaedrar can reach multiple centuries of age; however, this is only true for the entire colony, not individual units. An old age for a sessile organism inadvertently allowes unicellularSolätare to accumulate on its surface, thus reducing the feeding area. Resolving the issue would require the organism to either outgrow the Solätare or actively combat them through chemical means. Nevertheless, both methods require energy and resources, which could come from newly realized growth or by allocating some away from growth. Two groups will therefore form: one that enlarges quickly and perishes before being enveloped by Solätare, and another that grows slowly but holds back the Solätare until their long lifespan runs out.
Basic Information
Genetics and Reproduction
Mångafjaedrar are broadcast spawners just like their ancestors. However, each unit releases fewer gametes than its non-colonial predecessors, though this is made up for by the number of units in each colony. When a mångafjaeder colony spawns varies from species to species as well as between individuals in different locations. The concentration of digestible matter, temperature, and predators are all factors that may come into play.
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