After traversing tree-lined trails or hiking through wooded wilderlands, few outdoor enthusiasts stop to ask themselves, SA国际影视传媒渉ow many mosses did I see today?SA国际影视传媒�

Unless, that is, youSA国际影视传媒檙e Jennifer Doubt. A curator of botany at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, Doubt is one of four biologists, researchers and lovers of all things related to the green and fuzzy plants, who traveled North earlier this month for a fieldwork expedition in the territory.

On July 3, Doubt, along with fellow museum technician Cassandra Robillard, University of Alberta instructor Rene Belland and Marion Barbe of the Forest Research Institute, set out along the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 waterfall route SA国际影视传媒� a hotbed of biodiversity SA国际影视传媒� in search of every species of moss they could find and collect.

SA国际影视传媒�ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 not much known about the mosses (in the NWT) SA国际影视传媒� thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot to know ...,SA国际影视传媒� said Doubt in an interview with News/North.

The groupSA国际影视传媒檚 desire to learn more about the mosses that call the territory home was shared by the territorial governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 Environment and Natural Resources (ENR). The department backed the collectiveSA国际影视传媒檚 bid to document moss diversity in southern NWT by sending a summer student to assist the Northern newcomers.

SA国际影视传媒淓NR is really interested in what natural resources there are in the territory,SA国际影视传媒� said Doubt.

SA国际影视传媒淧art of the reason weSA国际影视传媒檙e doing this work is get a better understanding of which species are rare and which are common. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a chance to refine information,SA国际影视传媒� she added.

For those wondering what all the fuss on forest fuzz is about, Cassandra Robillard said the rootless plants arenSA国际影视传媒檛 just tiny, theySA国际影视传媒檙e SA国际影视传媒渦nderratedSA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒� and important.

Bite-size bryophytes SA国际影视传媒� the scientific grouping of mosses and liverworts SA国际影视传媒� play a big role in the ecosystems they belong to.

The porous plants, which can seek out sunny spots or hunker down in humid crevices, act as sponges, soaking up large amounts of water and rainfall. Their knack of holding water, Robillard said, can safeguard against flooding and harmful erosion..

Mosses feed forest-dwellers and provide nest materials for birds and according to Doubt, their supporting role is especially integral in the North.

SA国际影视传媒淭he farther North you go the less able those flowers and ferns and trees are able to deal with the cold and dry climate. So, mosses and lichens become more and more important in the ecosystems theySA国际影视传媒檙e in,SA国际影视传媒� said Doubt.

To learn more about the mosses they encountered SA国际影视传媒� many times by sticking their heads in natureSA国际影视传媒檚 dimly-lit nooks and crannies SA国际影视传媒� the group collected samples and lots of them.

SA国际影视传媒淚 would guess 500 samples (were taken), but that represents maybe 150 different kinds,SA国际影视传媒� said bryophyte expert and conservationist Rene Belland.

Belland said the team encountered a surprisingly large amount of Seligeria, a species of moss.

SA国际影视传媒�ISA国际影视传媒檝e seen Seligeria right across the country and ISA国际影视传媒檝e never seen it as abundant as in some of the crevices we looked at,SA国际影视传媒� said Belland.
SA国际影视传媒�ItSA国际影视传媒檚 the Seligeria capital of Canada,SA国际影视传媒� added Doubt with a laugh.
But its presence might not always remain so bountiful.
SA国际影视传媒�All of the Seligeria, as far as the data suggests so far, show that the species are either sensitive or may be at risk,SA国际影视传媒� said Doubt.
In taking stock of the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 mosses, Doubt said the trip was also meant to SA国际影视传媒渇ocus on mosses that are at risk.SA国际影视传媒�

With hundreds of samples now gathered, Belland said the SA国际影视传媒渧ouchersSA国际影视传媒� will go back south with their respective collectors, destined for testing. After being identified, analyzed and archived, sample results will be relayed to ENR.

For Doubt, the excursion was an opportunity to map one of mother natureSA国际影视传媒檚 most SA国际影视传媒渕isunderstoodSA国际影视传媒� and overlooked members.

SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e small compared to us and so we develop this misconception that they have a small or insignificant role, but thereSA国际影视传媒檚 an awful lot of it when you start to look around SA国际影视传媒� and very important,SA国际影视传媒� said Doubt.

The passionate mob of moss enthusiasts told News/North they hope to make another trip to the North in the future.