Polypides of neighboring zooids may occasionally touch each other while scanning, but they will quickly withdraw. In the IRL, B. gracilis was found primarily on seagrasses, but also on wood, dead shells, and aluminum cans. Coastally, it was found on algae, dead shells, hydroids and on other bryozoans. Seagrasses as well as floating macroalgae , provide support for bryozoan colonies. In turn, bryozoans provide habitat for many species of juvenile fishes and their invertebrate prey such as polychaete worms, amphipods and copepods.
Bryozoans are ecologically important in the Indian River Lagoon due to their feeding method.
As suspension feeders, they act as living filters in the marine environment.