Organisms of the Phylum Bryozoa, are facinating creatures that live as a colony of individual zooids which are dependent upon each other for survival. These filter feeders, though as individuals are less than a millimeter in size, appear in large oblong colonies that may measure over a meter in circumference. The zooids are grouped by differing functions within the colony. Thus far there is only one Class of freshwater Bryozoans, with the remainder being marine. Over 5,000 species of all types of Bryozoans are known to exist world-wide. On June 29, 2009, DLIA staff discovered and photographed a large colony, underwater, attached to a stick, in the park (see the photo in the taxa section below). For more interesting information on the Class Bryozoa see Introduction to the Bryozoa - UCMP Berkeley.