Patel Jeny Rajeshbhai

LA4015-3

Mosses, also known as bryophytes, are an important part of the ecosystem. After any damage to the forest or at the beginning of forest regeneration, mosses play a crucial role as pioneers of the forest ecosystem. They can grow on bare rocks, disturbed soils, or nutrient-poor areas. Unlike other plants, mosses do not have roots; instead, they have root-like structures known as rhizoids, which help them cling to bare surfaces like rocks. Mosses reproduce through spores, making it easy for them to colonize bare or disturbed surfaces. They absorb nutrients from the atmosphere, retain and recycle them, and return them to the soil when they die and decompose. Mosses also contribute to soil formation by drying up and trapping dust particles, which adds to the soil layer. This soil then serves as a base for other plants to grow.