Article & Photography by: R Hnatuik
Mosses are captivating and ecologically important plants that have long intrigued botanists and nature enthusiasts alike. In this article, we will explore the intriguing features and ecological significance of mosses. Mosses can be found on exposed soil, on bark of trees, on foot paths, and on the rocky outcrops at the Arboretum. Although they are remarkably resilient plants, their aesthetic values can also be easily damaged by walking on them.
Understanding Mosses
Mosses belong to the division Bryophyta, a group of non-vascular plants that also includes liverworts and hornworts (Goffinet and Shaw, 2009). These ancient plants have evolved unique adaptations that allow them to survive in diverse environments. There are about 1000 species of moss in Australia, which is a little less than ten percent of the world total (10,000 – 12754, Chapman 2014).
Life Cycle and Structure
The life cycle of mosses is characterized by alternation of generations (Glime 2023). This means that the visually dominant phase is the gametophyte (the plant that produces the male and female sex cells – sperm and egg). The gametophyte has only one set of chromosomes per cell (n). It consists of leafy stems, rhizoids for anchorage, and specialized structures called gametangia for reproduction. The sporophyte, is the spore producing phase and has cells with two sets of chromosomes (2n). It emerges from the gametophyte, has a threadlike stem, called a seta, which bears a capsule at its tip. The capsule contains spores for dispersal (Reski and Abel, 2018).
Mosses on Rocks
Mosses exhibit remarkable adaptability and are often found colonizing rocky surfaces. Their ability to grow on rocks is attributed to specialised structures such as rhizoids. Rhizoids anchor the mosses to the rocky substrate and facilitate absorption of water and nutrients from the environment (Crum and Anderson, 1981). The amount of nutrients coming via rhizoids is generally small (Glime 2023). Mosses help to gradually breakdown rocks thus contributing to soil formation and create a favourable microhabitat for other organisms (Bates, 2018).
Ecological Significance
Mosses play vital ecological roles. They help prevent soil erosion by absorbing rainfall and reducing and slowing water runoff. Additionally, their ability to retain moisture in their tissues creates a favourable microclimate for various organisms, including insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates. Mosses can also serve as a food source and provide nesting material for certain animals (Longton, 1992). By accumulating wind-blown soil particles and fine organic matter, they develop favourable places for seed plants to become established.
Conservation and Study
Understanding the ecology and diversity of mosses is essential for their conservation and preservation. Researchers study mosses to unravel their evolutionary history, ecological functions, and potential applications in various fields, including medicine and ecology (Shaw and Renzaglia, 2004). Because of their small size and the limited knowledge of their abundance, they don’t attract much conservation effort in Australia. Collecting mosses needs careful preparation. Don’t collect without permission or permits where required. It is easy to disturb or destroy mosses growing on the rocks by walking on them.
Aesthetic value
Mosses have been a part of horticultural appreciation for centuries (Glime 2017a). They figure strongly in Japanese garden culture (Glime 2017a), and modern container culture (Oshima & Kimura 2017). Mosses are also a feature in modern European and American Gardens (Glime 2017b). At the National Arboretum, mosses are an important part of the native vegetation of many rocky outcrops. They also occur on exposed soil along road-cuttings, and on exposed soil patches in the understorey of the Forests, in the allés between Forests and along paths.
Conclusion
Mosses are remarkable organisms that captivate us with their ability to thrive in challenging environments, including on rocks. Their small size, unique life cycle, structures, and ecological roles make them a worthy subject for study and aesthetic values. By appreciating the significance of mosses, we gain a deeper understanding of the delicate balance and beauty of our natural world.
Further Reading
Australian Bryophytes. The Australian National Botanic Gardens. https://www.anbg.gov.au/bryophyte/ .
Bates, J.W. (2018). Ecological roles of mosses in terrestrial ecosystems. In: Goffinet, B., Shaw, A.J., Eds. Bryophyte Biology, 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press.
Chapman, A.D. (2009). Numbers of Living Species in Australia and the World, Australian Biodiversity Information Services, Toowoomba, Australia, A Report for the Australian Biological Resources Study September 2009. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/science-research/abrs/publications/other/numbers-living-species/discussion-plants , accessed 27 June 2023.
Crum, H., Anderson, L. (1981). Mosses of Eastern North America. Columbia University Press.
Flora of Australia online: Bryophytes: https://www.anbg.gov.au/bryophyte/
- History of Research on Australian Mosses [Helen P. Ramsay; from Flora of Australia volume 51, 2006]
- Key to the Genera of Australian Mosses[William R. Buck & Dale H. Vitt; from Flora of Australia volume 51, 2006]
- Classification of the Bryophyta [Bernard Goffinet, William R. Buck & A. Jonathan Shaw (2012)]
- Catalogue of Australian Mosses (AusMoss) [from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne]
- Australasian Bryological Newsletter
- Abbreviations & Contractions / Glossary of Technical Terms
Flora of Australia Volume 54, Lichens – Introduction, Lecanorales 1, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra (1992).
Flora of Australia Volume 55, Lichens – Introduction, Lecanorales 2, Parmeliaceae, Australian, Biological Resources Study, Canberra (1994).
Flora of Australia Volume 58A, Lichens 3, ABRS/CSIRO, Melbourne (2001).
Flora of Australia Volume 56A, Lichens 4, ABRS and CSIRO Publishing, Canberra and Melbourne (2004).
Flora of Australia Volume 57, Lichens 5, ABRS and CSIRO Publishing, Canberra and Melbourne (2009)
Glime, J. M. 2017a. Gardening: Japanese Moss Gardens. Chapt. 7-2. In: Glime, J. M. Bryophyte Ecology. Volume 5. Uses. Ebook 7-2-1 2. In: Glime, J. M. Bryophyte Ecology. Volume 5. Uses. Ebook sponsored by Michigan Technological University and the International Association of Bryologists. Last updated 11 October 2017 and available at http://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/bryophyte-ecology/
Glime, J. M. 2017b. Gardening: Private Moss Gardens. Chapt. 7-3. In: Glime, J. M. Bryophyte Ecology. Volume 5. Uses. Ebook sponsored by Michigan Technological University and the International Association of Bryologists. Last updated 19 February 2023 and available at <http://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/bryophyte-ecology/>.
Glime, Janice (2023). Bryophyte Ecology. https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/bryophyte-ecology/ [accessed 27/6/2023].
Goffinet, B., Shaw, A.J. (2009). Bryophyte Biology, 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press.
Longton, R.E. (1992). The Biology of Polar Bryophytes and Lichens. Cambridge University Press.
Malcolm, B. & Malcolm, N. (2006), Mosses and other Bryophytes, an Illustrated Glossary, Second Edition. Micro-Optics Press, Nelson.
McHale, Ellen (2020). 7 interesting things about mosshttps://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/moss .
Oshima, Megumi, and Kimura, Hideshi (2017). Miniature Moss Gardens – Create Your Own Japanese Container Gardens. Tuttle Publishing, Hong Kong.
Read, Cassia and Slattery, Bernard (2014). Mosses of dry forests in south eastern Australia. Castlemaine : Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests (Mount Alexander Region).
Rogers RW 1992. Keys to Australian lichen genera. Flora of Australia 54: 65-94. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
Scott, GAM 1985. Southern Australian Liverworts. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 2. Academic Press (London).
Longton, R.E. (1992). The Biology of Polar Bryophytes and Lichens. Cambridge University Press.
Reski, R., Abel, W.O. (2018). Mosses as model organisms in plant biology. In: Lloyd, R.M., Ed. Methods in Molecular Biology. Humana Press.
Shaw, A.J., Renzaglia, K.S. (2004). Phylogeny and diversification of bryophytes. American Journal of Botany, 91(10), 1557-1581.