Why can a bryozoan colony survive after part of it is destroyed?

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Eurystomella bilabiata, a moss animal from the Order Cheilostomata. — moss animal *Eurystomella bilabiata*, a moss animal from the Order Cheilostomata.

A bryozoan colony can survive after part of it is destroyed because it is not an individualistic organism but rather a colony composed of numerous interconnected units called zooids.12

Because the colony lacks a definite shape and grows through continuous budding, it is not reliant on any single part for its overall survival. The zooids are linked by a system of interzooidal pores and tissues, such as the funiculus, which allows for the distribution of nutrients throughout the colony, including to nonfeeding areas. This integrated physiology enables the colony to maintain its function and continue growing even if a portion is lost to damage or predation.23