Freshwater bryozoans, including Cristatella mucedo, provide a microhabitat for an ‘aufwuchs’ community of micro-organisms including:
(Bushnell 1966; Bushnell & Rao 1979).
Larger associates appear to be predators, including
(Wood & Okamura 2005; Weißmair 2005)
Their presence is typically followed by the rapid disappearance of colonies (Okamura 1997).
Midge larvae commonly build their tubes partially beneath colonies and may cause damage via their activities and occasional predation (Okamura 1997; Wood & Okamura 2005).