Bryozoa are underwater colonies of tiny, colonial animals which, like sponges, filter water for their food. They look kind of like coral but they are much more sophisitcated then coral. They have complete digestive systems ( mouth, stomach, anus.) Unlike sponges, they don't leave a handy elastic structure after they die. The animals are on the perimeter of the gelatinous mass. That gelly like stuff is mostly water. The semi-visible set of pea-sized shapes are the tiny little animals. What you actually see are lophophores, the visible portions of the actual animals, poke their tiny stems out into the water and wave petals to guzzle water and water-borne nutrients. When disturbed, they all pop back into the jelly in unison. (We will look at this the next time I come up with my scope!)

Worldwide, there are over 3,500 species of bryozoa, but only about 50 of these species inhabit freshwater. We haven't been able to figure out what this one's scientific name. But there is a website for ones that look somewhat similar at http://www.millermicro.com/bryozoa.html

Also check out:
http://www.civgeo.rmit.edu.au/bryozoa/links.html

Some marine bryozoans have bacteria that live in symbiosis with them. These bacteria make a substance, Bryostatin, that is a powerful chemotherapy agent used in certain cancers.

There is evidence that bryozoan in freshwater lakes are a GOOD THING! They filter water and may help to clean it!