Glomeror

Glomeror (Insula Glomerorum), is a megaorganism the size of an island, one is confirmed to exist permanently in the southwest(held by the Cap-Federation), with another potential mating partner in the north. It is a colonial organism of various mushroom and fungal zooids working together in a large biomass to complete their biological goals; eat, reproduce, grow, ect..

It is not yet known how or when these megaorganism(s) came to exist, some people, primarily those of the Moldchkins, believe it is parts of a higher shroomish being sloughed off into this mortal realm.

## Biological Procesess

### Parts of the Whole

There are multiple documented zooids that make up Insula Glomerorum, being a megaorganism. However, the pure size and complexity of Glomerorum slows the study of its parts, so the list will become updated as studies progress.

#### Mycelium Mat

This complex zooid functions primarily to insulate the mass of the island and assists in maintaining the homeostasis by transporting nutrients, antibodies, and various other essential fluids and resources to the other zooids of the megaorganism. It's also thought that this may still be a grouping of other, smaller, zooids threaded together into a mat. This zooid secondarily functions as a form of stem cell for the other zooids, sparking their creation and growth to fill whichever is needed at the time. It is unknown how or where these decisions are made, it is thought that the collective mass of the zooid mat signals this decision. Some even say this is the main "body" of the megaorganism which begs further study; however, that is as of now unconfirmed.

#### Bovineus Fungatty

Commonly known as Mooshrooms, this particular zooid, bordering on a separate species altogether, is more mobile and independent than the others and tends to the fields of mycelium as a form of caretaker. They also double as a form of defense for the megaorganism, as their primary form of reproduction involves the buildup of gasses in their stomach, leading to an explosive asexual reproduction similar to a Creeper. This behavior is oddly only observed on the megaorganism, so it is thought the process is triggered through some form of signal using the spores in the air.

#### Witchcap

Mushroom zooid characterized by its vibrant colors and pointed peak.

#### Brownbowl

Mushroom zooid characterized by its relatively short and stout "bowl" shaped head.

#### Snowpeak

Mushroom zooid characterized by its giant white cap, one of the larger zooids.

#### Toadstool

Mushroom zooid characterized by its red cap speckled in white spots. This zooid comes in various sized from small, large, and spindly. They are among the more numerous zooids.

#### Brownflat

Mushroom zooid characterized by its flat brown cap. This zooid comes in two varieties, small and tall. These seem to serve as a form of temperature regulation, stimulated in areas seeing too much sun or heat. They have been seen to drip cool fluids from their underbellies as well, so they may also serve as a form of irrigation.

#### Pitchpeak

Mushroom zooid characterized by its giant black cap. This zooid is one of the largest and therefor rarest in the megaorganism.

#### Livercap

Mushroom zooid characterized by its yellow, concave cap, typically found with pools of water resting in it. Seems to serve as a form of water filtration for the whole, saturating itself with fluids to be disinfected by the sun or its own biological facilities.

### Feeding

The forms in which the megaorganism feeds are many and varied. It has been observed filter feeding through the surrounding ocean through specialized costal shrooms; decomposing oceanic trash, dead animals on land and in water, and even underground through an interconnected network mimicking the appearance of glowberries, lichen, and moss; absorbing nutrients from the soil and air similar to trees; and finally it has been observed through mana fluctuations to even tap into magical leylines during times of biological strife. It seems it would continue to sustain itself indefinitely, surviving anything short of proper annihilation.

### Reproduction

The reproduction cycle of Insula Glomerorum has yet to be observed in its totality due to its tectonic speeds, and due to its only potential breeding partner being across the world, past mountains, deserts, and volatile weathers (for spores). We have only witnessed the MSE stage of its cycle; however, scholars are hard at work to reproduce a self contained model of Glomeror to understand how the stages may progress past the initial "fertilization" phase.

### Growth

Insula Glomerorum, due to its unique nature, has a variety of ways in which it grows. Generally, its mycelium mat will spread over any bare dirt at astonishing speeds; however, it also is able to spread underground and even break off sections of itself into the sea to grow in size, take root on the seabed floor, and eventually link up to the main mass. The only thing that can slow its growth is becoming submerged, as spores are essential to its biological processes, and drying out, for obvious reasons. As such, the megaorganism will take extensive measures, through zooids and general shape, to maintain the ideal humidity to maintain homeostasis and grow.

## Biological Events

### MSE(Mass Spore Ejection) Event

The MSE or more commonly known Mass Spore Ejection, is a very rare event to witness on Glomeror. The megaorganism produces large sacs filled to the absolute brim with special reproductive spores wherever it can on its surface, which will serve two purposes when they are released. Firstly, they seem to be largely for reproduction, an attempt to fertilize its theoretical partner to the north, how that would occur and what would happen after is unknown as of yet as the one MSE we've witnessed was unsuccessful.

A secondary, seemingly backup, purpose for the spores is in the creation of Moldchkins, the most recent MSE being the origin of the majority of the current population. As the spores fail to reach the mating partner to the north, be it through winds, weather, or lackluster, they fall to the ground and take root in whatever would take them; rotting logs, cadavers, a particularly rancid bog. Thus whichever spores reach maturity, would become the Pureshrooms that would proceed to start another wave of Moldchkins. This wave of population seems to progress in terms of evolutionary fitness as well, due to the next event described.

It is yet unknown what triggers an MSE; however scholars theorize it could be an interval of centuries, during periods of overabundance, or during particularly favorable environmental conditions.

### Spore Recall Event

A Spore Recall Event happens around a year after an MSE occurs, during which, any products or creations that resulted from the MSE's secondary purpose, are called to return via spooky action from a distance through whichever means they would have available to them. Halfspores describe it as an intense longing and homesickness, whereas Pureshrooms can describe it as nothing short of a compulsion or command. The purpose for this event arises out of a few needs. Firstly, it is for the sake of resources and pragmatism, as recallling them would bring resources and partially repurpose the extensive amount of energy spent on an MSE. Secondly, it potentially brings new mushrooms to incorporate into its biology, as the MSE spores are not strangers to taking over foreign mushrooms.

And thirdly, and most importantly, it is to determine where the originating MSE went wrong or what it did right, as a form of sixth sense or mission report to the megaorganism, to which it will readjust its strategy to accordingly. It is theorized that, over millennia, the megaorganism has honed its MSE after countless iterations of MSE and Recall. Where one MSE might fail to cross arid climates or produce faulty Moldchkins, the proceeding MSE would correct for that mistake; edging ever closer to a successful MSE. Due to the length of the most recent Recall event, it is theorized that the very next MSE would be successful and we will get to observe the reproduction cycle of the Glomeror species.