The small things
The Hoh rainforest, gets a whopping 14 feet of rain each year. Combine this with a low dense fog and you get one of the wettest places on earth, the temperate rainforest…
A perfect breeding ground for moss.
There are literally hundreds of species of moss that live in the Hoh Rainforest and contribute to the ecosystem.
They have no roots, stems or leaves, and are thus unable to transport water on their own. Luckily, this trait also lets them grow anywhere moisture exists. However, those huge draping green branches are lichen, not moss.
Lichen are made up of Fungi and algae working together, with the former providing structure and the latter nutrition. Both lichen and moss play a huge role in the ecosystem.
When they grow thick, the lichen and moss create a soil-like substrate. In this shape, they can provide structure and water for other plants, Particularly seeds, which take root in the substrate before expanding their roots to the forest floor.
In a crowded forest, this makes moss even more essential.
Just a reminder to not look over the small things.
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