Bryophytes are the second largest group in the plant kingdom, comprising between 15,000 and 25,000 species, with around 126 in the Maltese islands. Yet there is a general lack of interest in bryophyte ecology and conservation in the Maltese islands and a know-ledge gap in local literature on the subject.

A Masters study that I conducted provided statistical evidence on the importance of environmental, micro-topographical and spatial factors in structuring local bryophyte communities on boulders.

It also contributed to knowledge on the intricate mechanics of bryophyte metacommunity dynamics and ecological requirements, particularly because there is no general consensus in the trends observed in recent literature.

Bryophytes comprise intricate miniature plants commonly referred to as mosses, liverworts and hornworts. In evolutionary terms, these species are particularly important because they mark the transition of life from a predominantly aquatic environment to an uninhabited terrestrial world.

This transition provoked dehydration challenges for these new colonisers of land, shaping the evolutionary pathway of water retention mechanisms that are crucial for the survival of higher land plants.

Due to their simplistic forms, bryophytes lack lignified tissues and depend entirely on an intricate laminar boundary layer for molecular diffusion. This renders them highly susceptible to fluctuations in environmental conditions, and their spatial distribution is often indicative of different types of micro-habitats. Moreover, bryophytes are also important micro-ecosystems, acting as refuge and nesting sites for other micro-biota.

Sacha Dunlop graduated with distinction in MSc Biology from the University of Malta. His Masters research was partially funded by the Master It scholarship scheme (Malta), which is part-financed by the EU’s European Social Fund under Operational Programme II – Cohesion Policy 2007-2013, ‘Empowering people for more jobs and a better quality of life’.