Ectoprocts are typically
Ectoprocts predominantly colonial sessile metazoans producing distinctive moss-like encrustations on marine substrates such as rocks, shells, kelp holdfasts and ship hulls, inspiring common name moss animals. Entire colony zoarium comprises repeating modules called zooids each bearing retractable lophophore for filter feeding, connected by pores and funicular cords sharing nutrients, arising via budding from founding ancestrula. Most marine from intertidal to abyssal few freshwater phylactolaemates. Strictly colonial absence solitary forms contrasting with solitary phoronids. Coloniality facilitates division of labor, chemical defense via avicularia contributing to ecological success as biofouling and habitat-forming benthos in oceans and coastal zones.
Ref: Campbell Biology, 12th ed., Chapter 33: Bryozoa colonial sessile; Brusca & Brusca Chapter 23