Project

PT EN

THE
CHALLENGE

Predicting habitat suitability under climate change is vital to conserving biodiversity but our current species distribution models rely on coarse scale climate data and may therefore lack precision.

We need finer, more accurate data to truly understand and protect vulnerable species.

UNDERSTANDING
THE VULNERABILITY
OF MOSSES TO
CLIMATE CHANGE

AIMS

BryoMicroClim focuses on understanding the vulnerability of Hedwigia striata, a near-threatened moss species in Europe, to climate change.

By studying its microclimate at fine-scale resolutions and long time-scales, we aim to provide more robust predictions of biological responses to changing climate and determine the resilience of microclimate refugia, bridging the gap between broad climate patterns and small-scale environments.

APPROACH

Partnering with bryologists across Europe
Collect and process in situ microclimate measurements from sampling sites across Europe for a target species
Use of field sensors to capture detailed microclimate temperature and humidity data during 1 year
Data analysis to identify fine-scale patterns of ecologically relevant microclimate variables for bryophytes

BRYOPHYTES

are small, slow-growing plants, commonly known as mosses, whose water content varies with ambient moisture. This characteristic makes them highly sensitive to environmental conditions and therefore uniquely positioned to study the impacts of climate change.

TARGET SPECIES

Hedwigia striata

HABITAT
Grows on rocks, mainly in forests and exposed rocky areas.

CONSERVATION STATUS
Near-threatened in Europe
iucnredlist

CHARACTERISTICS
Sensitive to changes in humidity and moisture in the surrounding environment and therefore expected to be affected by climate.

OBJECTIVES

Deploy an innovative network of microclimate sensors across Europe
Uncover how microclimates vary over time and space for our target species

Compare local microclimates with broader climate trends
Understand the species' limits and tolerance regarding temperature and humidity

Explore how microclimate variation might help our target species adapt to climate change
Relate findings to latitude and forest type/structure to identify vulnerable microrefuges

FIELD SENSORS

LOGGERS PER SITE

MEASUREMENTS

SAMPLING INTERVALS