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Why can freshwater bryozoans be found in water pipes?
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moss animal
Eurystomella bilabiata, a moss animal from the Order Cheilostomata.
Freshwater bryozoans, also known as moss animals, are found in water pipes because they readily colonize submerged surfaces. These organisms naturally attach to various objects in their environment, such as stones, shells, and vegetation.1
While they are commonly found in quiet or slowly flowing natural bodies of water, their tendency to settle on submerged structures extends to man-made systems. Historically, before the implementation of modern water filtration systems, these colonies frequently inhabited and polluted water supply pipes. Today, they remain capable of colonizing the insides of pipes and other artificial submerged surfaces due to this inherent biological behavior.12