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How do statoblasts help freshwater bryozoans survive unfavorable conditions?

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The image shows a group of Virginia big-eared bats sleeping upside down in a dark cavern. — Dormancy Virginia big-eared bats (*Corynorhinus townsendii virginianushibernating*) are true hibernators, entering a state close to death for much of the winter.

Statoblasts are specialized, disklike buds produced by freshwater bryozoans that serve as a vital mechanism for survival during periods of environmental stress, such as drought or the onset of winter.1

These structures are encased in a hard, chitinous (horny) shell that protects the organism when the parent colony dies. By remaining in this dormant state, the statoblasts can withstand unfavorable conditions that would otherwise be lethal to the adult colony. When environmental conditions become favorable again, the statoblasts develop into new bryozoan colonies, effectively perpetuating the species. In addition to ensuring survival, statoblasts function as a form of asexual reproduction, allowing for the propagation and spread of a successful genotype.123