Our Great Salt Lake has a Sweet Spot for Moss, Should We? Bryophyte Extremotolerance as a Model for Climate Resilience

Orem, UT

Ecosystems that have a biocrust are able to support plant productivity and diverse population growth than ecosystems that lack a healthy biocrust. This project focuses on the health of local mosses in acidic and extremely saline environments such as the Great Salt Lake. Mosses pioneer rich foundations for flora that lack the ability to establish themselves in extreme environments. The Great Salt Lake has high soil erodibility north of Salt Lake city and harmful elements are blown into residential areas by high winds. Ambient long-term exposure to PM2.5 results in regressive health conditions such as DNA damage, immune toxicity, and apoptosis. Awareness of these issues positions citizens around the Great Salt Lake to identify clear supports in managing their health and contribute to monitoring the status of PM2.5 in their areas. Findings indicate that moss species function as critical bioindicators and pioneers for biocrust regeneration in damaged ecosystems like the Great Salt Lake.