Quttinirpaaq National Park is not only a sought-out travel destination for outdoors enthusiasts, it is now recognized for being home to a SA国际影视传媒渢iny, brilliant green moss thatSA国际影视传媒檚 found in few places in the world,SA国际影视传媒� according to Parks Canada and the Wildlife Conservation Society Canada.
A special gully inside CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 northernmost park is home to a moss called SA国际影视传媒淧orsildSA国际影视传媒檚 BryumSA国际影视传媒� (ijju nunami/釔冡斁釘� 釗勧搰釖� in Inuktitut). The name SA国际影视传媒淧orsildSA国际影视传媒檚SA国际影视传媒� comes from Alf Erling Porsild, a Dutch-Canadian botanist who grew up in Greenland, while Bryum refers to a sub-species of moss.
According to Darrin Reid, resource conservation manager of Nunavut North Parks, SA国际影视传媒渋tSA国际影视传媒檚 pretty rare. There are only 17 populations of one species. It always sparkles, and always looks kind of wet.SA国际影视传媒�
He said PorsildSA国际影视传媒檚 Bryum is so rare because SA国际影视传媒渢hey have a particular habitat that they like, ie. shaded areas or deep crevices near waterfalls, where they make colonies. The only one ISA国际影视传媒檝e seen in Quttinirpaaq is smaller than my hand.SA国际影视传媒�
The moss thrives on a certain type of calciferous rock with a chalky or sandy quality to it.
Three moss populations have been identified in the park, in an area called Tanquary Fjord.
In general, the moss is SA国际影视传媒渟ort of of all over CanadaSA国际影视传媒�, but the populations SA国际影视传媒渁re not connected in any way,SA国际影视传媒� according to Reid.
The very specific requirements of the plantSA国际影视传媒檚 habitat are partly the reason for its place on the SA国际影视传媒渢hreatenedSA国际影视传媒� population list SA国际影视传媒� about mid-range in terms of becoming endangered. It is considered a SA国际影视传媒渟pecies at risk,SA国际影视传媒� which is why the gully in Quttinirpaaq SA国际影视传媒渋s now a key biodiversity area SA国际影视传媒� a site that plays an outsized role in maintaining globally and nationally significant biodiversity.SA国际影视传媒�
If this species and the role it plays in biodiversity is lost, the consequences are potentially huge as SA国际影视传媒渨e donSA国际影视传媒檛 know how this species interacts with the ecosystem. It could have cascading effects. This is what Parks Canada does,SA国际影视传媒� Reid emphasized, SA国际影视传媒渂ecause itSA国际影视传媒檚 important we keep biodiversity to keep species safe from threats that come along.SA国际影视传媒�
Threats are varied, but include climate change, which could cause SA国际影视传媒渁 prolonged drought, or temperature extremesSA国际影视传媒� that would threaten the survival of the species, leading to a degraded population and ultimately, extinction, Reid explained.
In terms of being susceptible to natural predators, such as insects or caribou populations, SA国际影视传媒渢hat aspect has not been studied to the extent that it would be possible to say that it is or it isnSA国际影视传媒檛,SA国际影视传媒� said Jennifer Doubt, curator of botany at the Canadian Museum of Nature, SA国际影视传媒渂ut as of 2018 (the year of the last status update) none were suspectedSA国际影视传媒� [the moss] is very vulnerable to environmental changes and events associated with climate change.SA国际影视传媒�
The mossSA国际影视传媒檚 habitat within Quttinirpaaq National Park is a zone with controlled access, restricting campers and tourists from the area. Any visitors are subject to an orientation with staff before going into the park, although Reid acknowledges that the remote location in the crevices of waterfalls are SA国际影视传媒渘ot the kind of place people are going to go.SA国际影视传媒�
The role of Parks Canada is SA国际影视传媒渢o protect vast swaths of land. The key biodiversity area lets us highlight whatSA国际影视传媒檚 extra special in these extra special places,SA国际影视传媒� said Reid.
Before designating the area, park management spoke to residents in Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord, several hundred kilometres to the south.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey were pretty excited to have the designation for this area,SA国际影视传媒� Reid said.
