Stromatolites on the eoarean world Laetona (outer Cygexba Volume)
Colonial aquatic, littoral, or semi-aquatic prokaryote or prokaryotoid, prokaryote-equivalant life form, one of the most common forms of macroscopic life in the galaxy. The colonies form large raised mounds, pillars, or pillows, with an outer layer of photosynthetic organisms, and concentric inner shells of deposited material.
The Terragen versions were colonies of blue-green algae that appeared along shorelines and in shallow water; most abundant from about 3.5 to 2 billion years ago. Stromatolites do best in water-rich temperate to warm low-diversity carbon-based ecosystems such as are common in EuVenusian, EuGaian, and EuArean type planets.
Algae - Text by Stephen Inniss, after the original by M. Alan Kazlev In the strictest sense, any of several otherwise unrelated Terragen organisms that are capable of photosynthesis but have a simpler organization than plants. Unlike plants they do not develop from embryos and do not produce complex organs. They may be single-celled or multicellular, and they are typically aquatic to semi-aquatic although a few live in moist terrestrial environments. Similar xenobiological organisms may also be called algae, and so may simple solar-powered and neumann-capable nanotech bots (see nanoalgae).
Algal Mat - Text by M. Alan Kazlev Generic term for growth of simple Terragen or xenobiotic unicellular plants that form a thick scum on the surface of moist rocks, sand, tidal pools, and other such environments. On many Garden Worlds with simple ecosystems algal mats are the highest form of plant life.
Prokaryote - Text by M. Alan Kazlev Very simple living cell or organism that contains genetic material (RNA, DNA or analogue) that is not separate from the rest of the cell. The term is also used for non-Terragen organisms of a similar level of complexity. Their cell structure is relatively simple and lacks a nucleus and any but the simplest organelles. Terragen examples include bacteria, archaea, and cyanobacteria. Organisms comparable to Old Earth prokaryotes are widely distributed through the universe, and are far better able to survive extreme conditions than eukaryote-grade life. However, it is very rare (but not unknown) for prokaryote cells to develop into higher life-forms.