苔(tai)蘚(xian)蟲(Bryozoa=Polyzoa)是(shi)固(gu)著生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)活的群體動(dong)物(wu)(wu)。苔(tai)蘚(xian)蟲是(shi)一種(zhong)(zhong)像苔(tai)蘚(xian)植物(wu)(wu)的動(dong)物(wu)(wu),外形(xing)很(hen)像植物(wu)(wu),但具(ju)(ju)一套完整的消化器(qi),包括口(kou)(kou)(kou)、食道、胃、腸和(he)(he)肛(gang)門等。所以把(ba)它放在動(dong)物(wu)(wu)界(jie)內。這種(zhong)(zhong)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)(wu)常和(he)(he)海藻伴生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)在一起。個體小,不分節,具(ju)(ju)體腔(qiang)。體外分泌一層(ceng)膠質(zhi),形(xing)成群體的骨胳(ge)。蟲體前端有口(kou)(kou)(kou),口(kou)(kou)(kou)的周圍有一冠狀(zhuang)物(wu)(wu),稱“總擔”,其上生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)許多觸手。消化道U字(zi)形(xing),口(kou)(kou)(kou)和(he)(he)肛(gang)門因(yin)而靠(kao)近。無排(pai)泄和(he)(he)循(xun)環器(qi)官(guan)。海水(shui)(shui)、淡水(shui)(shui)均產。在地(di)質(zhi)時(shi)代種(zhong)(zhong)類很(hen)多,奧陶紀即已(yi)出現,現代尚有生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)存。例如羽苔(tai)蟲附著湖邊石(shi)上或植物(wu)(wu)上;牡丹苔(tai)蘚(xian)蟲,附著淺海巖礁上。
硬體(ti)為鈣質,蟲管(guan)細長,斷面呈圓形、多邊形,有(you)間(jian)隙孔(kong)、刺孔(kong)、中心區(qu)(qu)(內帶(dai))、邊緣區(qu)(qu)(外(wai)帶(dai)),內外(wai)帶(dai)界線不清,內帶(dai)壁(bi)厚,橫(heng)板(ban)少,外(wai)帶(dai)壁(bi)薄,橫(heng)板(ban)多。蟲管(guan)壁(bi)具(ju)平行片狀結(jie)構圍繞蟲室。
硬(ying)體(ti)為鈣質,群體(ti)呈扇(shan)狀、漏斗狀、枝狀等,通常由許多平行(xing)的(de)分(fen)枝構成,有(you)橫枝相連,構成網格(ge)狀,兩枝上(shang)有(you)兩列蟲(chong)(chong)室(shi),蟲(chong)(chong)室(shi)中間被一中棱隔(ge)開。蟲(chong)(chong)室(shi)呈長(chang)方形(xing)、正(zheng)方形(xing)或(huo)六邊形(xing),內外(wai)帶清楚(chu),內帶窄,外(wai)帶寬,有(you)刺(ci)孔(kong)。單偏光(guang)鏡下呈深棕(zong)色(se),壁具平行(xing)片狀結(jie)構。苔(tai)蘚(xian)蟲(chong)(chong)以(yi)其(qi)群體(ti)較(jiao)小(xiao),蟲(chong)(chong)管細長(chang)與(yu)珊瑚(hu)區別(bie),并以(yi)其(qi)蟲(chong)(chong)管向外(wai)不收(shou)縮,而管壁在加厚(hou)處呈疊錐似的(de)平行(xing)片狀結(jie)構,有(you)間隙孔(kong)及刺(ci)孔(kong)來(lai)區別(bie)珊瑚(hu)藻和(he)珊瑚(hu)。絕大多數(shu)苔(tai)蘚(xian)蟲(chong)(chong)生活在淺海中,也有(you)少(shao)數(shu)于淡水中。
苔(tai)蘚(xian)蟲(chong)(chong)多生活在海洋。有菊(ju)皿苔(tai)蟲(chong)(chong)、白薄苔(tai)蟲(chong)(chong)和(he)鞭(bian)須苔(tai)蟲(chong)(chong),我國海產苔(tai)蘚(xian)蟲(chong)(chong)分布在膠州(zhou)灣、浙江淺海海底,和(he)珊瑚混生在一起。淡(dan)水產的苔(tai)蘚(xian)蟲(chong)(chong)在蘇州(zhou)、南京、深圳淡(dan)水水體中均(jun)有。
苔(tai)蘚(xian)(xian)蟲(chong)(chong)喜歡在較清潔、富含藻(zao)類、溶解氧充足的(de)(de)水(shui)體(ti)中(zhong)(zhong)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)活(huo),能(neng)適(shi)應各地帶的(de)(de)溫度,廣泛分布(bu)于世界(jie)各地。淡(dan)水(shui)種在春、秋季節(25~28℃)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長旺盛(sheng),水(shui)面有(you)(you)(you)很多(duo)上一年的(de)(de)休眠芽,遇適(shi)宜環境(jing)發育成苔(tai)蘚(xian)(xian)蟲(chong)(chong)。微污染的(de)(de)水(shui)體(ti)中(zhong)(zhong)也有(you)(you)(you)苔(tai)蘚(xian)(xian)蟲(chong)(chong)。在微污染源水(shui)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)(wu)預處理過程中(zhong)(zhong)如(ru)有(you)(you)(you)大量(liang)苔(tai)蘚(xian)(xian)蟲(chong)(chong)出現(xian),會被填料攔截(jie),附(fu)(fu)在填料上生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長,和(he)鐘(zhong)蟲(chong)(chong)、聚縮(suo)蟲(chong)(chong)、獨縮(suo)蟲(chong)(chong)、累枝(zhi)蟲(chong)(chong)、蓋(gai)纖蟲(chong)(chong)等(deng)有(you)(you)(you)粘性(xing)尾(wei)柄的(de)(de)原生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)聚在一起,具有(you)(you)(you)一定的(de)(de)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)(wu)吸(xi)附(fu)(fu)作(zuo)用(yong),并(bing)吞食水(shui)中(zhong)(zhong)微型生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)(wu)和(he)有(you)(you)(you)機雜質(zhi),對水(shui)體(ti)的(de)(de)凈化有(you)(you)(you)一定積極(ji)作(zuo)用(yong)。但(dan)如(ru)果極(ji)度大量(liang)繁(fan)殖,會降(jiang)低水(shui)流速度,給(gei)工程運行造成一定不利(li)影響。