The Connecticut State Museum of Natural History showcased a variety of moss species and adaptations at the Mansfield Public Library on Saturday, Sept. 20.
The event, “A Window Into the Universe of Mosses,” was joined by Dr. Bernard Goffinet, a professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and director of the Biodiversity Research Collections at the University of Connecticut.
Various tables were set up in the Buchanan Auditorium with different examples of mosses with descriptive cards. Microscopes were available to see tiny details of moss samples in Petri dishes and the structures of different cells.
One of the more hands-on exhibits was the moss petting zoo. Fifteen different species of moss were arranged next to each other for the attendants to touch freely. Brushing your hand across the cluster revealed different spongy, fuzzy, feathery and firm textures.
Another display demonstrated how moss can control spore dispersal based on humidity. One of the ways mosses reproduce is through spore dispersal, which favors drier conditions. Under a microscope, you could see how quickly they closed off their spore capsules when a water droplet was placed on them.
A different table showed how mosses that reproduce sexually care for their offspring. Mothers will provide nutrients to the growing stalk and a protective “hairy hood” that protects the spore capsule until it matures.
After the attendants had time to observe the moss, Goffinet gave a presentation that went deeper into the species seen in the room.
Goffinet began by outlining the lineage of mosses, which have been around for hundreds of millions of years. He explained that despite mosses looking similar, there are around 12,000 species of moss in the world and 1,600 species in North America. He then clarified what exactly this meant.
“It means that there were 1,600, or 12,000 ways of building moss,” Goffinet said. “Fundamentally, they all have the same building blocks. But if we play with these blocks and we modify them, we can create some diversity.”
Goffinet explained that some species can only be distinguished by their DNA or small details invisible to the naked eye. But he said that others were more prominent, especially with their spore usage.
“There are some mosses where you have half a million spores on the capsule,” Goffinet said. “And then there are others that have a different strategy, they only produce 16.”
He explained that the resistance of spores and means of dispersal also depends on the species. While some mosses rely on wind to travel, others brush against birds or other animals to spread.
Goffinet also went into how mosses have dead cells that surround their living cells to retain water. Because mosses lack roots, they can absorb and lose water across their entire surface. These dead cells store water to prevent moss from drying out, which is part of what makes many species spongy.
According to Goffinet, peat moss has the highest water absorption of any species and is not broken down by decomposers because it causes acidic conditions in the environment. He said that humans have found helpful ways to use peat moss because of these properties.
“The water holding capacity has been known to indigenous communities wherever peat moss occurs because they have used them as diapers or any other product they need for absorption,” Goffinet said. “The acidification property was also known because peat moss was used for bandages [in war times] because it was so acidic that it prevented bacterial growth and thereby limited infection.”
After Goffinet’s talk, the audience had more time to review the displays and ask questions.
Elizabeth Barbeau, a program/administrative coordinator and museum informatics specialist for the CSMNH who helped organize the event, said it was a nice change of pace from the outdoor moss walks sometimes held by the department.
“We wanted to do something like this…so we can see the diversity of different mosses and really appreciate them and compare them and do it in an environment where everyone gets a chance to ask questions and get up close, because you can’t always do that on the trail,” Barbeau said. “We just think it’s important to teach people about the things that are right under their feet and very common, but they might not notice.”
Future events hosted by the CSMNH in the fall can be found on the CSMNH website.