Final answer:
Zooids within colonies like bryozoans can be of different types, mainly autozooids for feeding and excretion, and gastrozooids for prey capture, with gonozooids specialized for reproduction. These specialized zooids work together as a single functional entity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Zooids are polymorphic units within a colony of certain aquatic invertebrates. In bryozoan colonies, zooids are generally of two types: autozooids and gastrozooids. Autozooids are responsible for feeding and excretion, while gastrozooids are adapted for capturing prey and feeding the colony. Another type of zooid, known as a gonozooid, is involved in reproductive processes, such as asexual budding and the production of sexual medusae. In some cnidarian species, like the Obelia, all polyps are interconnected through a coenosarc, ensuring shared nutrition and function within the colony. Moreover, in colonies such as the Portuguese Man O'War, there can be a combination of polyp and medusa individuals with specialized functions for the survival and reproduction of the colony.