Bryophytes in a Changing Climate: Ecological Functions, Carbon Sequestration, and Conservation

Abstract

Bryophytes, including mosses, liverworts, and hornworts, are important components of terrestrial ecosystems. Despite their small size and lack of vascular tissues, they occupy diverse habitats and show remarkable adaptations to desiccation and environmental stress. They contribute to soil formation, nutrient cycling, water retention, decomposition, erosion control, microclimate regulation, and carbon storage. Their associations with microorganisms, particularly nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria, further enhance these functions. Sphagnum is especially important in peatlands, where it influences water regulation, nutrient cycling, and long-term carbon storage. Bryophytes also accumulate atmospheric pollutants, making them useful bioindicators of environmental contamination. However, climate change, habitat loss, altered moisture and temperature regimes, agricultural intensification, deforestation, invasive species, and urbanization increasingly threaten their diversity and ecological roles. Bryophytes also produce diverse secondary metabolites with promising pharmaceutical, agricultural, and biotechnological applications. This review highlights their ecological functions, roles in carbon and nutrient cycling, responses to climate change, major threats, and conservation needs, emphasizing their importance for ecosystem resilience and biodiversity conservation.