Final answer:
In bryozoans, the lophophore has ciliated tentacles that are used for filter feeding. This lophophore is a common feature among organisms classified within the superphylum Lophotrochozoa and defines the morphology and function of bryozoan zooids.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bryozoans are a type of aquatic invertebrate animals known for their filter-feeding, with individual organisms called zooids that live together in colonies. These colonies can take various forms, including gelatinous blobs, branching structures, or sheet-like encrusters. The characteristic feeding structure of bryozoans is the lophophore, which is composed of a set of ciliated tentacles surrounding the mouth. These tentacles are crucial for the organism's filter-feeding mechanism, as they extract food particles from the water.
The lophophore is a distinguishing feature of organisms in the superphylum Lophotrochozoa, which includes other animals with either a lophophore or trochophore larvae. Although the systematics of this group remains to be fully resolved, the presence of a lophophore is an established characteristic used to define and classify these organisms.
Bryozoans have evolved various colony forms over time, from early fossils to the present. They exhibit bilateral symmetry at the individual level, and are typically benthic, meaning they are attached to the substrate in their marine environments. These structures are not only important for feeding but also lend to the unique morphology that can be observed in fossil assemblages and present-day ocean ecosystems.