Syntrichia caninervis, also known as steppe screw moss[1] or desert moss[2], is a species of moss that belongs to the Syntrichia genus. It has adapted to extremely dry conditions and is known for its remarkable resilience to harsh environments.[3] It belongs to the Pottiaceae family.[4][5]
| Tortula moss | |
|---|---|
| |
| Syntrichia caninervis | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Bryophyta |
| Class: | Bryopsida |
| Subclass: | Dicranidae |
| Order: | Pottiales |
| Family: | Pottiaceae |
| Genus: | Syntrichia |
| Species: | S. caninervis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Syntrichia caninervis (Mitt.) Broth.
| |
Distribution and habitat
editS. caninervis has a widespread global distribution and is commonly found in extreme desert environments. It has been observed growing in Tibet, Antarctica, and circumpolar regions as part of the biological soil crust, which is a resilient type of ground cover often found in arid lands.[2]
Characteristics
editDrought tolerance
editS. caninervis is well-known for its ability to tolerate drought conditions, making it well-adapted to desert environments.[2]
Extreme temperature tolerance
editResearch has shown that S. caninervis can survive freezing temperatures as low as −196 °C (−320.8 °F) (in liquid nitrogen) for up to 30 days. It has also demonstrated the ability to withstand storage at −80 °C (−112 °F) for up to 5 years. In both cases, the moss was able to regenerate upon thawing, with dehydrated specimens showing faster recovery compared to hydrated ones.[2]
Radiation resistance
editS. caninervis exhibits remarkable tolerance to gamma radiation. It can survive exposure to doses of up to 500 Gy, which is lethal to most plants and far exceeds the lethal dose for humans (around 50 Gy). Some studies have even suggested that exposure to 500 Gy of gamma radiation may promote the plant's growth.[2]
Simulated Martian conditions
editIn laboratory experiments, S. caninervis has demonstrated the ability to survive simulated Martian conditions. These conditions included an atmosphere composed of 95% CO₂, temperature fluctuations between −60 and 20 °C (−76 and 68 °F), high levels of UV radiation, and low atmospheric pressure. Dried moss plants achieved a 100% regeneration rate within 30 days after being subjected to these conditions for up to 7 days.[2]
Potential for space exploration
editDue to its extreme tolerance to harsh conditions, S. caninervis is considered a promising candidate for Mars colonization efforts. Researchers suggest that this moss could potentially be used as a pioneer plant for creating sustainable habitats on Mars or the Moon. However, further research and testing in actual space environments are needed to fully assess its viability for extraterrestrial colonization.[2]
References
edit- ^ Gurera, Dev; Bhushan, Bharat (2020-03-20). "Passive water harvesting by desert plants and animals: lessons from nature". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. 378 (2167): 20190444. doi:10.1098/rsta.2019.0444. ISSN 1364-503X.
- ^ a b c d e f g "This desert moss has the potential to grow on Mars". ScienceDaily. Cell Press. 2024-06-30. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ Pan, Zhao; Pitt, William G.; Zhang, Yuanming; Wu, Nan; Tao, Ye; Truscott, Tadd T. (2016-06-06). "The upside-down water collection system of Syntrichia caninervis". Nature Plants. 2: 16076. doi:10.1038/nplants.2016.76. ISSN 2055-0278. PMID 27302768.
- ^ Canadian Journal of Botany: Journal Canadien de Botanique. National Research Council of Canada. 2002.
- ^ Ochyra, Ryszard; Bednarek-Ochyra, Halina; Smith, Ronald Ian Lewis (2008-11-13). Illustrated Moss Flora of Antarctica. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81402-7.