The inference of extrazooidal feeding currents in fossil bryozoan colonies

Abstract

Taylor, Paul D. 1979 01 15: The inference of extrazooidal feeding currents in fossil bryozoan colonies. Lethaia, Vol. 12, pp. 47–56. Oslo. ISSN 0024–1164. Previous studies on live bryozoan colonies have shown that the feeding autozooids in a colony may cooperate in differing ways to produce an extrazooidal watercurrent system organised on a colony-wide or subcolony-wide basis. The presence of an extrazooidal current system may be inferred in fossil stenolaemate bryozoans which exhibit either a differential spacing of open autozooecial apertures or a systematic variation across the marial surface in the orientation of automoecial distal portions. By inference, aggregations of autozooecial apertures represented loci of inhalant extrazooidal flow whereas zoarial protuberances (e.g. monticules) with outwardly leaning autozooecia acted as loci of exhalant extrazooidal flow. Bryozoans having automoecia opening obliquely into gaps or fenestrules in their zoaria probably drew a unidirectional extrazooidal current of water through the fenestrules. Extrazooidal water currents may function to accelerate colony clearance rate, decrease the chances of recycling filtered water, aid spermatoman and larval dispersal, and clear sediment from the colony surface.