Freshwater bryozoan  (Lophopus crystallinus)

Biology

Bryozoans can reproduce either sexually, in which a free-swimming stage results, or asexually either through 'budding' or by the production of a dormant 'statoblast' stage. These statoblasts are packages of cells, in which there is stored food, surrounded by a tough layer. They can survive freezing and drying-out, and can persist for many years (6). L. crystallinus produces distinctive lemon-shaped statoblasts, which may allow the species to disperse over quite long distances (2). These statoblasts are approximately 1mm long and 0.5mm wide and range in colour from dark to light brown (2).

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