Reproduction and dispersal
Crystal moss animal hatching from statoblast (Image by Samantha Hill)
Reproduction
Asexual production is the main reproductive mode. There are two forms:
- Budding to increase colony size
- The production of dormant stages (statoblasts)
Lemon-shaped statoblasts are released from colonies. Statoblast dormancy is broken by poorly understood environmental cues.
Sexual reproduction is rare (Wöss 1996) and its timing poorly known.
Dispersal
Adult colonies can actively glide apart to form new daughter colonies.
Long-distance dispersal is likely facilitated by waterfowl (Figuerola et al. 2003).