Optimising Artificial Moss Growth for Environmental Studies in the Mediterranean Area
Bryophytes are poikilohydric organisms that play a key role in ecosystems, while some of them are also resistant to drought and environmental disturbances but present a slow growth rate. Moss culture in the laboratory can be a very useful tool for ecological restoration or the development of urban g...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/11/2523 |
| _version_ | 1797508632879824896 |
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| author | Zulema Varela Carlos Real Cristina Branquinho Teresa Afonso do Paço Ricardo Cruz de Carvalho |
| author_facet | Zulema Varela Carlos Real Cristina Branquinho Teresa Afonso do Paço Ricardo Cruz de Carvalho |
| author_sort | Zulema Varela |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Bryophytes are poikilohydric organisms that play a key role in ecosystems, while some of them are also resistant to drought and environmental disturbances but present a slow growth rate. Moss culture in the laboratory can be a very useful tool for ecological restoration or the development of urban green spaces (roof and wall) in the Mediterranean region. Therefore, we aim to: (i) determine the optimal culture conditions for the growth of four moss species present in the Mediterranean climate, such as <i>Bryum argenteum</i>, <i>Hypnum cupressiforme</i>, <i>Tortella nitida,</i> and <i>Tortella squarrosa</i>; (ii) study the optimal growth conditions of the invasive moss <i>Campylopus introflexus</i> to find out if it can be a threat to native species. Photoperiod does not seem to cause any recognisable pattern in moss growth. However, temperature produces more linear but slower growth at 15 °C than at 20 and 25 °C. In addition, the lower temperature produced faster maximum cover values within 5–8 weeks, with at least 60% of the culture area covered. The study concludes that the culture of moss artificially in the organic gardening substrate without fertilisers is feasible and could be of great help for further use in environmental projects to restore degraded ecosystems or to facilitate urban green spaces in the Mediterranean area. Moreover, this study concludes that <i>C. introflexus</i> could successfully occupy the niche of other native moss species, especially in degraded areas, in a future global change scenario. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:06:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0fa5a9191429460aba21d6c359866cd8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:06:40Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-0fa5a9191429460aba21d6c359866cd82023-11-23T01:07:11ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472021-11-011011252310.3390/plants10112523Optimising Artificial Moss Growth for Environmental Studies in the Mediterranean AreaZulema Varela0Carlos Real1Cristina Branquinho2Teresa Afonso do Paço3Ricardo Cruz de Carvalho4CRETUS, Ecology Unit, Department Functional Biology, Facultade de Bioloxía, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, SpainEcology Unit, Department Functional Biology, Escola Politécnica Superior de Enxeñaría (EPSE), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Rúa Benigno Ledo, Campus Terra, 27002 Lugo, SpainCentre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, PortugalLEAF—Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food—Research Center, Associated Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, PortugalCentre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, PortugalBryophytes are poikilohydric organisms that play a key role in ecosystems, while some of them are also resistant to drought and environmental disturbances but present a slow growth rate. Moss culture in the laboratory can be a very useful tool for ecological restoration or the development of urban green spaces (roof and wall) in the Mediterranean region. Therefore, we aim to: (i) determine the optimal culture conditions for the growth of four moss species present in the Mediterranean climate, such as <i>Bryum argenteum</i>, <i>Hypnum cupressiforme</i>, <i>Tortella nitida,</i> and <i>Tortella squarrosa</i>; (ii) study the optimal growth conditions of the invasive moss <i>Campylopus introflexus</i> to find out if it can be a threat to native species. Photoperiod does not seem to cause any recognisable pattern in moss growth. However, temperature produces more linear but slower growth at 15 °C than at 20 and 25 °C. In addition, the lower temperature produced faster maximum cover values within 5–8 weeks, with at least 60% of the culture area covered. The study concludes that the culture of moss artificially in the organic gardening substrate without fertilisers is feasible and could be of great help for further use in environmental projects to restore degraded ecosystems or to facilitate urban green spaces in the Mediterranean area. Moreover, this study concludes that <i>C. introflexus</i> could successfully occupy the niche of other native moss species, especially in degraded areas, in a future global change scenario.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/11/2523bryophytesecological restorationgreen roofsMoss coverphotoperiodtemperature |
| spellingShingle | Zulema Varela Carlos Real Cristina Branquinho Teresa Afonso do Paço Ricardo Cruz de Carvalho Optimising Artificial Moss Growth for Environmental Studies in the Mediterranean Area Plants bryophytes ecological restoration green roofs Moss cover photoperiod temperature |
| title | Optimising Artificial Moss Growth for Environmental Studies in the Mediterranean Area |
| title_full | Optimising Artificial Moss Growth for Environmental Studies in the Mediterranean Area |
| title_fullStr | Optimising Artificial Moss Growth for Environmental Studies in the Mediterranean Area |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimising Artificial Moss Growth for Environmental Studies in the Mediterranean Area |
| title_short | Optimising Artificial Moss Growth for Environmental Studies in the Mediterranean Area |
| title_sort | optimising artificial moss growth for environmental studies in the mediterranean area |
| topic | bryophytes ecological restoration green roofs Moss cover photoperiod temperature |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/11/2523 |
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