Plantlife Special: photosynthetic organisms

**Welcome to the first Plantlife Special.**<br><br>Scrubbers are an incredibly important component in any ecosystem, ensuring that the air is safe to breath, oxygen levels are maintained, and that dying biomass is being converted back into nutrients. This special is dedicated to the photosynthetic scrubbers of your world.<br><br>Submissions are open now, and will close on the 30th of November. To submit, please respond to this comment with a link to your submission, and a brief summary of it. The summary should be 3-5 sentences long, and contain a basic description of the organism, interesting characteristics, and its role in the ecosystem. If you follow these guidelines, you will be eligible for a Special Badge.<br><br>**Submissions can be in any format, but some suggestions include:**<br><br>* A short stand-alone description<br>* An excerpt from an encyclopedia entry<br>* A section from a field guide<br>* A scientific paper from an in-universe organisation<br>* A passage of lore or oral history<br>* A short story from the perspective of the organism<br><br>Scrubbers play a crucial role in shaping the worlds they inhabit. What can their presence tell us about the environment, the history of the ecosystem, and the other organisms that share their home? Beyond just aesthetics, their function in the ecosystem should have an impact on the other organisms there. Some questions to ask yourself when building your scrubbers and their role in the ecosystem:<br><br>* Is photosynthesis the primary source of energy for this world, or are there other primary producers?<br>* What is the relationship between this scrubber and the herbivorous animals of this world? Does the plant compete with the herbivores, or do they coexist?<br>* How has this scrubber influenced the development of the local wildlife and their adaptations?<br>* Are there any apex predators feeding on this plant?<br>* Does this plant have any natural competitors in its environment?<br>* How does the scrubber respond to environmental changes, such as changing temperatures or severe weather conditions?<br>* Does the plant have any impact on the world’s geochemistry, altering the composition of the environment through its interactions with its surroundings?<br>* How has this plant adapted to the local geography?<br>* Does the plant have any unique features or mechanisms to defend itself from grazing or predation?<br>* What is the role of this plant in nutrient cycling within the local ecosystem?<br>* How has the evolution of this plant impacted the local animal species, and vice versa?<br>* What is the plant’s role in stabilising or altering the local terrain?<br>* Are there any parasites or commensals that live on or around this plant?<br>* Does the plant have any symbionts?<br>* In what ways does this plant influence local water and nutrient circulation?<br><br>**Submissions should be made as a comment below. If you have any questions, please ask in the discussion thread.**