Threatened bryoid habitats

Endangered habitats of non-vascular plants

Nature

Habitat alteration and degradation for development and agriculture are the principle threats to bryoids.

Background

Bryoids are defined as bryophytes (mosses, liverworts, and hornworts) and lichens (foliose or fruticose; not crustose). Non-vascular (lower) plants lack true conducting tissues, leaves and roots. Since they lack elaborate conducting tissues they are relatively small. The gametophytes are the dominant phase and the sporophytes are dependent upon them. Non-vascular plants require water for fertilization so they must grow in moist or seasonally moist habitats.

Incidence

Threatened bryoid habitats, which support mosses, liverworts, and hornworts, are experiencing significant decline globally due to deforestation, land conversion, pollution, and climate change. These microhabitats are particularly vulnerable in temperate and tropical forests, peatlands, and alpine regions, where their loss disrupts ecosystem functions such as water retention and nutrient cycling. The reduction in bryoid diversity and abundance has been documented across Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia, highlighting the widespread nature of this issue.
In 2022, the Scottish Highlands saw a marked decline in rare bryophyte-rich habitats due to commercial forestry expansion and drainage projects. Surveys by the British Bryological Society reported significant losses of Sphagnum moss communities, which are critical for peatland health and carbon sequestration.

Claim

The destruction of bryoid habitats—home to mosses, liverworts, and hornworts—is an urgent crisis that demands immediate attention. These overlooked ecosystems are vital for water regulation, carbon storage, and biodiversity. Ignoring their decline is reckless, as it undermines the health of entire landscapes. We cannot afford to let these unique habitats vanish; their loss would be an irreversible blow to ecological stability and our planet’s future. Action to protect them is absolutely essential.

Counter-claim

The concern over threatened bryoid habitats is vastly overstated. These mosses and liverworts are resilient, adaptable, and have survived countless environmental changes over millennia. With so many urgent global issues—climate change, food security, and human health—devoting resources to bryoid habitats is a distraction. Their loss would have minimal impact compared to the pressing crises facing humanity. Let’s focus our attention and funding where it truly matters, not on obscure plant microhabitats.