Immergeons

Immergeons are a genus of autonomous, amorphous organisms that form interconnected colonies in freshwater and marine environments. The name combines immersion, reflecting their habit of inhabiting submerged substrates, with geon, a suffix used in speculative biology for modular, semi-sentient entities.

Immergeons are most commonly found in geothermal springs, tidal pools, and cave systems where mineral-rich water supports their chemoautotrophic symbionts. They range from a few millimeters to several centimeters in diameter and prefer stable currents and low light.

They lack a centralized nervous system. Instead, they rely on a decentralized network of cells that communicate via chemical signals and electric pulses. This network allows coordinated responses across the colony, such as movement, shape changes, and light emission. They possess a silica-organic skeleton that provides structural support and can fragment under stress to form new colonies.

Their ecology and life cycle involve being immersed in nutrient-rich water, feeding on dissolved minerals and microbial films, and often hosting endosymbiotic bacteria that perform chemosynthesis. They reproduce by budding and occasional fission, creating daughter colonies that disperse with water currents. Light emission, or bioluminescence, serves as communication and deterrence to predators.

Researchers study immergeons as potential bioindicators of water quality and as models for decentralized cooperation. Some experiments have explored their use in bioremediation and biomaterials, though blooms can disrupt local ecosystems. Conservation concerns center on habitat destruction and pollution reducing available submerged substrates.