Mosses are ancient plants, they have existed on this planet for over 450 million years. With 15,000 – 25,000 species globally, they are an incredibly diverse group. They are found on every continent where they play vital roles in their ecosystems.
Mosses are unusual plants: They do not have roots, flowers or structures for transporting water and nutrients. They’re also small, growing just centimetres high.
Despite this, they are capable of shaping ecosystems and creating some of the most important carbon sinks on the planet.
In The Flow Country, mosses have been slowly changing the landscape for over 9000 years.
Sphagnum
Sphagnum mosses are also known as the ‘bog mosses’. These mosses are a vital part of peatland ecosystems. They grow over landscapes, covering them in a rich, biodiverse carpet, which allows other species to thrive. When these mosses die, the wet, acidic conditions mean they do not fully break down, instead forming layers of peat.
Did you know..?
When dry, sphagnum can absorb 20 times its own volume in liquid. It is also antiseptic; it creates acidic environments which bacteria cannot survive in. This makes it an excellent wound dressing and has been used by people to treat wounds for hundreds of years. In World War One, when stocks of cotton dressings were low, Sphagnum began to again be used as wound dressings. The Flow Country exported huge amounts of moss during this time!
Peatlands have been historically undervalued. In the UK, 80% of peatlands have been degraded, often in attempts to drain them for agriculture and forestry. We now have a better understanding of peatlands and the vital role they play in the fight against climate change.
While the Flow Country may look flat, it is complex and diverse ecosystem. The array of different mosses and other plants, and the various bodies of water provide habitats for many different types of invertebrates. The best time to see invertebrates in the Flow Country is between June and August. The information here is far […]
The Flow Country is excellent habitat for wildlife, but this ecosystem is valuable for people too! Ecosystem services are the direct and indirect contributions ecosystems make for human wellbeing. The Flow Country provides several important services for people.
From water voles to red deer, The Flow Country is home to some of Scotland’s most iconic mammal species. While herds of red deer are not easy to miss, many more elusive species can be found in this vast landscape.
