How bryophytes build biodiversity?
When considering biodiversity, people usually think of tropical forests, bustling butterflies, squawking birds, fluffy mammals, towering trees, and bountiful blossoms. But what about what lies beneath, what sets the foundation for the diversity we rely on and cherish? It is easier to consider only the big picture, the overall success of most species, the ones that are easy to classify and understand. This brings to mind the proverb, “you cannot see the forest for the trees,” which dates back to John Heywood in sixteenth-century England. It suggests that by focusing too narrowly on details, one may miss the broader picture. As bryologists, those who study hornworts, mosses, and liverworts, we find this saying especially resonant, though in our case, we might say we quite literally see the forest in the moss.
Out of nearly 400,000 plants in the world, bryophytes make up about 20,000 of them. This number may sound small, as it is only roughly 5%, but the value of these plants for the ecosystem and thus cultivating further biodiversity must be recognized.
Bryophytes as home builders
Imagine being a tiny microorganism, such as a mite or a rare species of fungi. What would be a better home than a moist moss, which regulates temperature and moisture while providing shelter? Bryophytes are a key actor in forest ecosystems, where they form microhabitats for many diverse species to live in.
Bryophytes as world builders
Bryophytes are one of the only species found on every continent–including Antarctica! In certain tougher ecosystems, such as peat bogs and the tundra, they make up a large percent of the biomass. Peat mosses in particular sequester significant amounts of carbon, which is vital for regulating the climate. One of the biggest threats to global biodiversity is climate change, and a key way to mitigate the effects of it is to preserve environments that sequester carbon. By bringing awareness to bryophytes, we can work together to preserve them in areas where they are at risk.
Ecosystem services
Because of their close relationship to soil and their lack of vascular tissue, bryophytes are also important for various ecosystem services that should not be overlooked. They are key indicator species due to their sensitivity to water, air quality, and pollution, so by observing them, we can tell a lot about the health of the ecosystem. They also regulate water, nutrients, and assist in succession and soil formation, which makes so many other species dependent on them.
Despite only making up 5% of the global plant diversity, this 5% is undoubtedly very important to global diversity due to the various ways they contribute to stable ecosystems around the world. However, they are also important from an evolutionary perspective, key members of the land plant phylogeny that may allow us to understand how biodiversity evolved–and how to maintain it.
Author: Eliza Hayse
