Boreolenta psycrasapila

Boreolenta psycrasapila
Creator	Mike Rowe
Information
Status	Extant
Zones	A
Roles	Decomposer, Parasite
Classification
Genus	Boreolenta
Species	Boreolenta psycrasapila
Evolution
Date	December 27th, 2018
Ancestor	Unknown
Descendants	Boreolenta acrothermus Boreolenta hydraherbensis Boreolenta maris

A protist-like species which acts as both a disease and a decomposer, feeding on the roots of Arctata formisus. It has two forms, an encysted form and an active form.

While in it's active form it moves through water with it's flagella and is attracted to A. formisus by its waste products. When in contact with the plant's roots it begins secreting two chemicals, one of which sticks them to the plant while the other acts as a toxin, killing and rupturing nearby cells. As the cells rupture they release the nutrients contained inside them which are absorbed through B. psycrasapila's cell wall. It's level of activity and rate of reproduction is, like most bacteria, proportional to it's temperature. This means that as the local A. formisus population grows and increases the temperature, it becomes more active and reproduces faster, harming more of the plants, and as the plants population drops, it's level of activity drops, allowing the plants to recover. This prevents it burning through it's food supply but also places a limit on the maximum size of any cluster of A. formisus.
'(edited)
While in it's cyst form it is completely non-motile but due to it's low water content and strengthened cell membrane it is almost impossible to kill. It's metabolism also drops to almost nothing, allowing it to survive encysted for years.

It enters this state when it's environment becomes too cold or chemically harsh for it to survive.