Bloom Sap

A water slug (Seaslug hydroclast) infected by an aggressive bacterial bloom and trapped in its own secretions. 1. Living water slug The slug is suffocating in a mass of sap-like resin secreted by its infected desalination organs. Probable infection vector: bacterial bloom in seawater. 2. Hardened saplike secretion The terpene-rich resin is produced by bacteria infecting the water slug. The process requires oxygen, which the bacteria steal from the slug or any other available source. The resin slowly hardens, but could easily be cleared by cutting and scraping. It serves no obvious adaptive function. 3. Viral anomaly Although the seawater in this region is saturated with a large RNA virus (generated name: Proteavirus), the bacteria infecting this sea slug carry a distinct viral strain (generated name: Proteavirus beta) that may be associated with bacterial blooms. Assessment: evidence of ecological crisis. Slug may be freed with appropriate tools. Consider limiting water intake from infected slugs.