Pebbled Sporal Tower

A specimen of *Sporal psephos*, the pebbled sporal. Its growth patterns defy earlier predictions.

1. Basic model Sporal (a moiety of coral polyps living in a sponge) uses a mix of food supplies: feeding on sunlight like a coral, and pumping water like a sponge.

2. Predicted behavior In deeper water, reduced light flux for photosynthesis should drive the pebbled sporal towards sponge-like behavior. It will grow pores and soften.

3. Actual behavior The sporal has hardened. There are no pumping spores. Vertical growth limits its photosynthetic surface. Given the choice of two strategies, the sporal has adapted neither.

4. Possible explanation The hardened, rocky surface may protect the sporal from turbulent or acidic water which would damage the interior. Deprived of both its food sources, the sporal feeds on tiny prey and marine snow while it grows upward in search of light.

5. Limited PDA competence Despite access to the sum of human knowledge, this PDA is not trained for deep ecological analysis. As conditions become more alien and challenging, the PDA must raise the temperature of its outputs, with increased risk of confabulation, delusion and pathological processing.

Assessment: valuable falsification of existing models.