[LN37]

While you're walking along the wooded path, you hear some distressed muttering from under you. After some inquiring, they reply,
_____<I’m supposed writing reports about various animals
_____for my school project but I haven’t started at all!>
The pop's face lights up.
_____<Wait, if you’re here, won’t you help me? Please? I
_____ have some stuff I can give you!>

So, every four days, I'll give out a prompt. You pick an species that fits it and then write a report on it!

Here's how to write a report:

Code: Select all

[picture here]
Scientific Name:
Facts/Info:
Extra:
Sources: 

The 'extra' is just your personal opinions of the species! It's optional.

I'll give 20 RD to the most interesting report and everyone will get at least 10 RD!
If there are many reports maybe I'll give out more >w<

[LN37]

The current prompt is:
organisms that live in coral reefs!

ends Apr. 9th~

[LN37]

Open for posting!

[Kirimuu]

Link in case some users may not want to view this image

Please excuse my bad grammar, English isn't my best nor first language
Scientific Name: Ophiocordyceps or so known as zombie-ant fungus
Facts/Info: These are a parasitic fungus that needs ants of other small insects in order to reproduce and survive. This happens by when an ant comes across these spores, the ant gets infected by the fungus- when the spores are attached to the ant, it begins to spread all over its body to begin its behavior manipulation or so called as "mind control". This makes the ant behave abnormally and just becomes a mere host for the fungus as it grows on the inside- the ant gets forced does what the fungus needs; at the end the fungus forces to ant to climb to a leaf or a twig to finish its life. The cycle repeats by the fungus growing out from the ant's head and releasing spore for future hosts.

Extra: the "zombie ant fungus" send shivers down my spine, it makes me imagine what would happen if people were able to get infected by these along with inspiration for some alien species.
I think this fungus is one of the more well-known types as it is quite interesting with the whole "mind control" and etc.

Sources: Castro, Joseph. “Zombie Fungus Enslaves Only Its Favorite Ant Brains.” LiveScience, Purch, 9 Sept. 2014, http://www.livescience.com/47751-zombie ... rains.html.
Feltman, Rachel. “Fungus Turns 'Zombie Ants' into Booby Traps.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 19 Aug. 2014, http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/spea ... 0b9bb1cb56.
Yong, Ed. “How the Zombie Fungus Takes Over Ants' Bodies to Control Their Minds.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 15 Nov. 2017, http://www.theatlantic.com/science/arch ... ds/545864/.

[Anxioustora]

Mark for when I get on pc

[magnapinna]

here
Scientific Name: Cladosporium Sphaerospermum
Facts/Info: cladosporium is a type of mold that usually is found in outdoor enviroments in soil and on decaying plant material as plant pathogens.
this fungus is xerotolerant and can be found in areas with low water activity.
in 2007-2008 it was discovered that the fungus were growing in the area affected by the chernobyl disaster in 1986, which caused a huge amount of radioactivity in pripyat and trails of radioactivity to other countries.
gamma rays makes the fungus stronger and makes growth faster
the fungi has melatonin.

Extra:
Sources: NASA, Standford university, microbewiki

[gossamer,]

tolypocladium inflatum

the source of the drug cyclosporine.
cyclosporine is used to prevent rejections
from organ transplants, as well as treating
rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.

it reproduces either as a parasite on scarab
beetles, or as a white mold that grows on
soil. it is more commonly found as the latter.

highly lead tolerant.

medlineplus wikipedia

[LN37]

The winner is ☼ Red Beanie ☼! Mind control mushrooms are quite scary :0
☼ Red Beanie ☼ - 20 RD

And since there weren't too many reports, I'll give out more RD!
keiikoa ! - 15 RD
gossamer, -15 RD

Thanks for entering everyone!

The next prompt is...
organisms that live in coral reefs!
And I forgot to mention, everyone who submits a report will get 10 RD at the very least!
So you'll be compensated for your hard work ^^

[magnapinna]

mark!!

[Neon sparks]

Scientific Name: Ptilosarcus gurneyi
Facts/Info: The sea pen is a colony organism like coral. it looks like an old fashioned quill pen with its feathery limb and large foot. the primary polyp or member of the colony becomes the stalk, with the foot attached. having the others as the fuzzy tentacles that give it its feathery look. each polyp member has its own function, some feed using nematocysts to catch plankton, some ventilate the colony by forcing water to pass through them.
Extra:
fun facts! -

• When disturbed, a sea pen forces water out of the colony, making it possible for the sea pen to retreat into its bulbous foot. Sea pens are octocorals—each polyp has eight tentacles.
  
• Sea pens glow with a bright-greenish light when stimulated.
  
• a large sea pen can have upwards of 35,000 members of polyp.
  
• Sea pens have been found in tons of places, even as far as Antarctica.

Sources:
https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/ani ... es/sea-pen
https://www.britannica.com/animal/sea-pen
https://www.livescience.com/15435-sea-p ... water.html