Interactions with non-human organisms thumb|Lacelike Membranipora membranacea Marine species are common on coral reefs, but seldom a significant proportion of the total biomass. In temperate waters, the skeletons of dead colonies form a significant component of shell gravels, and live ones are abundant in these areas. The marine lace-like bryozoan Membranipora membranacea produces spines in response to predation by several species of sea slugs (nudibranchs). Other predators on marine bryozoans include fish, sea urchins, pycnogonids, crustaceans, mites and starfish. In general marine echinoderms and molluscs eat masses of zooids by gouging pieces of colonies, breaking their mineralized "houses", while most arthropod predators on bryozoans eat individual zooids.
Interactions with non-human organisms thumb|Lacelike Membranipora membranacea Marine species are common on coral reefs but seldom a significant proportion of the total biomass In temperate waters the skeletons of dead colonies form a significant component of shell gravels and live ones are abundant in these areas The marine lace-like bryozoan Membranipora membranacea produces spines in response to predation by several species of sea slugs (nudibranchs) Other predators on marine bryozoans include fish sea urchins pycnogonids crustaceans mites and starfish In general marine echinoderms and molluscs eat masses of zooids by gouging pieces of colonies breaking their mineralized "houses" while most arthropod predators on bryozoans eat individual zooids