Mud Flats are like the horizon between terra (land) and aqua (water). This transition area between land and water is home to a rich and diverse flora and fauna. Natural factors affecting the mudflats include storms that flush the the area, temporarily changing the balance between fresh and salt water. The cold upwelling of waters along the western coast of Mandalea creates a large expanse of muddy banks. This flow of water moves some of the nutrients to adjacent habitats providing food and refuge for a rich variety of organisms. Aside from the carpet of green plants that dominate the environment, the mudflats often appear as lifeless, barren areas, yet they are home to an incredible number of small animals.

Producers

Rumples

Rumples have no true vascular tissue.  Since there is no true transport mechanism for the plant's nutrients, this plant is incapable of storing "food" in its root system.  Its blades have an efficient design to capture maximum Luminous' rays to do photosynthesis though.

Psilos

Its 2 feet stature allows Psilos to bask in luminous rays efficiently. Its special bulb structures on the tip and nodes called bladerrettes allows it to tolerate excess salt.  Psilos plays a major role as a primary producer in the mud flat ecology. These plants support themselves upright by developing some rudimentary vascular tubes which also act as channels for the nutrients to travel from the roots to the rest of the plant.  These plants do not have leaves.  Photosynthesis happens throughout the plant's structure except for the roots.  Hint: if it's green=it could do photosynthesis

Jetograss

Thinner than Rumples, these mud flat grasses are as tall as Psilos plants. Together, these plants provide a very large surface area to absorb Luminous' light energy. They are the largest group of primary producers in mud flat ecology.

Primary Consumer

Capecod

You are sure to find Capecods in areas where you see Psilos growing in any muddy banks. They have mouth extensions that help them filter out mud from food. These numerous primary consumers nip on the premature Psilos'(primary producers) still submerged in water and this bite wound, this injury, in turn, develops into the bladerretes that help the plant survive the high water salinity of the environment. Capecods are almost transparent making them "disappear" in muddy waters. Although this adaptation makes them escape being eaten by the "big" predators of the mud flats--Hemisquilla ensigera., they can't escape the efficient filter feeding of Cnideree.

Secondary Consumer

Cniderees

Cniderees are small in structure (1-3in). These animals have adapted to occasional direct exposure to Luminous during low tides. They have very short stubby legs that help them move through the mud. They are also segmented like a worm so they can quickly weave through the mud when they try to avoid direct exposure to Luminous. They are soft bodied invertebrates. They feed on Capecods and other tiny mud flat animals. They reproduce asexually and sexually.

Predator

Hemisquilla Ensigera

The Hemisquilla Ensigera is a formidable, and highly predatory, carnivore with lightning-quick reflexes, and stalked, compound eyes that diligently scan its environment. It often waits motionless in its burrow quickly snatching any unwary passerby for its next meal, but it can also be observed stalking its prey (its favorite is Cniderees) and aggressively smashing it to bits with its front appendages. Its diet consists of a variety of prey items including Cniderees, small crustaceans, snails, sand dollars, worms and fish. Burrows play a crucial role in the lives of Hemisquilla ensigera and are used for defense, feeding, mating, reproduction and molting activities.

The Food Chain

The Energy Pyramid among Eupleides Mud Flat organisms