moss-ecology
Moss ecology examines how mosses interact with their environment and other organisms within ecosystems. Despite their simple structure, mosses play critical roles in water retention, nutrient cycling, and soil formation, making them essential indicators of ecosystem health and important drivers of succession in diverse habitats.
PubMed · 2026-02-24
Under climate warming on the Tibetan Plateau, moss-driven nitrogen fixation becomes the only soil process keeping pace with plants' growing nitrogen demands in thawing permafrost—a critical adaptation that may allow vegetation to continue growing despite warming-driven nitrogen stress.
Plant nitrogen demand increased significantly after 2 years of experimental warming, while plants' ability to recycle nitrogen from leaves remained unchanged, forcing greater reliance on soil supplies
Moss-associated biological nitrogen fixation was the only quantified nitrogen supply process that responded positively to warming across both experimental years
Warming altered moss functional traits—expanding suitable colonization areas and increasing carbon availability for nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, driving broader taxonomic diversity