Ocean Biome

The Ocean Biome is a briny aquatic biome characterized by extensive Salt Water pools, large amounts of Sand, Table Salt, and Bleach Stone, and generally mild thermal behavior compared with many other biomes. It appears as a major biome on the Oceania (Ocean Biome) asteroid and is composed of several variants (Base, Hot, Deep, Slush, Frozen) that alter temperature and the state of water found in the biome. No metal ores spawn natively in this biome.

Salt Water is the principal liquid present. In colder variants and in low-temperature areas of Tide Pool features, Salt Water partially or fully turns into Brine (or Brine Ice in Frozen variants). The Base and Deep variants provide Salt Water and, depending on variant, Brine; the Slush variant is cooler and converts part of Salt Water into Brine; the Frozen and Solid variants can freeze liquids and gases (Liquid Oxygen and Solid Carbon Dioxide appear in solidized pockets). The Hot variant increases ambient temperature and commonly includes Salt Deposits and Salt Water Pools; the Deep variant lacks Bleach Stone features but contains Salt Deposits.

Plants and food sources are abundant compared with many biomes. Domestically plantable species available in the Ocean Biome include Mealwood, Bristle Blossom, Sleet Wheat, Balm Lily, Wheezewort, Pincha Pepper, Dusk Cap, Thimble Reed, and Waterweed. Harvesting Waterweed yields Lettuce that feeds into higher-tier recipes. Several plants found in other biomes are absent here, notably Arbor Tree, Oxyfern, Dasha Saltvine, and Nosh Sprout.

Critters and ranching: the biome hosts species useful for resource production; for example, Pokeshell Molt occurs here and is an excellent source of Lime but can become aggressive when defending eggs and thus requires careful handling. Some critters common to other starts (like Pips) do not naturally occur in the Ocean Biome and must be obtained via Printing Pod or other destinations.

Terrain features and deposits commonly found in the Ocean Biome include Salt Deposits, Salt Water Pools, Bleach Stone Deposits, Sand Deposits and Salt Water Pools that may contain Carbon Dioxide pockets, Fossils, and Sedimentary Rock. Tide Pool areas form distinctive pockets of deep Salt Water and often require desalination before use. There are no Metal Ores spawned natively in this biome, and Raw Mineral spawns are dominated by sedimentary materials rather than igneous or metal ores.

Practical notes and strategies:

• Any Salt Water intended for duplicant use must be desalinated. Use Desalinators to remove salt; Table Salt can be produced from salt deposits using a Rock Crusher and combined with a Mess Table for morale bonuses.
• Waterweed is a convenient early-to-mid game plant for producing Lettuce and filling food supply chains.
• Ranch Pokeshell Molt only with secure enclosures and careful breeding procedures; they provide Lime but can attack when nesting.
• The Ocean Biome’s generally benign heat profile means heat management is rarely a major concern compared to volcanic or oil biomes, though Hot variants require normal precautions for high-temperature workspaces.
• Tide Pool and Deep features can concentrate Salt Deposits and deep Salt Water bodies; map-specific layout can place these pockets near the surface and close to starting points, so scout and plan desalination and storage accordingly.
• The Ocean Biome on the Oceania asteroid typically coexists with nearby Swamp, Caustic, Frozen, Volcanic, Oil, and Space biomes; its large horizontal caverns and extensive water bodies make navigation and access relatively easy but caution should be taken to avoid spilling brine or polluted liquids into base areas.