2023-10-20 01:06:07
A scientific team led by the Doñana-CSIC Biological Station has compiled all the information available about the Schistostega pennatacommonly called luminous moss u elf golda very unique species.
Of a bright and shining green
It grows in shady areas, mainly at the entrance to caves, mines or natural or artificial hollows and can be recognized because it reflects the little light it receives, which gives it a bright and shiny green appearance. Despite its uniqueness, little is still known about its ecology.
Like many other species, it is in decline and could be disappearing. Most are found in areas with abundant rainfall, mild temperatures and oceanic influence and always in shady areas.
This scientific team has compiled all the available information that existed about it, has modeled its distribution in the Iberian Peninsula and has outlined certain aspects of its future conservation. Like many other species, it is in decline and could be disappearing.
To begin with, the scientific team has located 26 new populations of Schistostega pennata in the Iberian Peninsula thanks to the records provided through different observation platforms of biodiversity and from their own sampling, which makes a total of 73 identified so far on the Peninsula.
Most are found in areas with abundant rainfall, mild temperatures and oceanic influence and always in shady areas. Additionally, the team has created a distribution model to understand which areas might be suitable for this luminescent moss proliferate. According to the results, although its distribution would be concentrated in the coastal area of the north and northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, some Mediterranean areas of the central-southern and northeast of the Peninsula They could also be suitable for this species, depending on whether they fit the specific climatic conditions it needs to thrive.
It is the first time that modeling of this type has been carried out for this moss, not only for the Iberian Peninsula, but for the entire world, so these results are essential to carry out sampling that allows us to learn more about the species and locate future populations. .
Conservation problems
By examining these populations, the scientific team has also observed that this species could be facing conservation problems. In fact, one of the towns located in Beade (Vigo) is about to disappear due to the construction of a road projected in a new urban plan.
One of the towns located in Beade (Vigo) is about to disappear due to the construction of a road projected in a new urban plan.
In addition to threats of human origin, climate change, together with increasing temperatures and lack of precipitation, would also be affecting this species.
“We have confirmed that many of their populations are threatened by anthropization or the impact that caves suffer at their entrance and some of them could disappear soon,” says researcher Jairo Robla, first author of the study. “They face constant trampling, construction of infrastructure, vandalism, and water extraction. Its habitat is so specific that any slight disturbance can seriously affect it. “Since it is a rare species in our territory, knowing where it is and where we could find new populations is very important to continue studying it in the future.”
In addition to these threats of human origin, climate change, together with increasing temperatures and lack of precipitation, would also be affecting this species.
Today it lacks effective legal protection
It is believed that the populations of this luminescent moss could be declining and this is already considered in the Red Book of Bryophytes of Spain (1), in which it appears with category vulnerable, although today it lacks effective legal protection. “This species makes us see the need, as always, to devote ourselves to studying and learning about the diversity that we have close to us, which in itself is surprising, but that we overlook,” comments the researcher.
“Of course, we will continue fighting to achieve legal protection in accordance with its vulnerable status and its biological and ecological uniqueness,” he added.
The location of the new populations of Schistostega pennata It would have been impossible without the selfless contribution of multiple people who uploaded their observations to platforms such as Observation.org, iNaturalist o Global Biodiversiy Information Facility (GBIF).
The scientific team that carried out the study encourages anyone who sees this species to upload their observation to these citizen science platforms and to contact them to continue collecting information about this species in the future.
“Only by focusing on knowing where this unique species really is will we be able to outline better conservation plans in the future. And in that, all help is welcome,” concludes researcher Jairo Robla.
References (1) Atlas and Red Book of Endangered Bryophytes of Spain. MITECO.
#ecological #keys #glowinthedark #moss