spurred broom moss
VU

spurred broom moss

Dicranum spurium

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicranum_spurium

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Spurred broom moss faces significant pressure from habitat degradation in its specialized woodland environments, particularly through changes in forest management practices that alter the microclimate conditions essential for its survival. Air pollution and nitrogen deposition have emerged as major threats, disrupting the delicate chemical balance of bark and rock substrates where this epiphytic moss establishes. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering precipitation patterns and temperature regimes that affect the moisture-dependent reproductive cycles of this bryophyte species.

Threat summary

Habitat

Spurred broom moss typically grows as an epiphyte on the bark of deciduous trees, particularly favoring older specimens with rough bark in mature woodland environments. It also colonizes acidic rock surfaces and occasionally decaying wood in humid, shaded locations where consistent moisture levels can be maintained.

Other threatened species in Dicranaceae

VU

Waxyleaf Moss

Dicranum polysetum

Unknown
Crisped Fork-mossVU

Crisped Fork-moss

Dicranum bonjeanii

Unknown
EN

Green Broom Moss

Dicranum viride

Unknown
VU

Paraleucobryum sauteri

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is spurred broom moss classified as Vulnerable?
spurred broom moss is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Spurred broom moss faces significant pressure from habitat degradation in its specialized woodland environments, particularly through changes in forest management practices that alter the microclimate conditions essential for its survival. Air pollution and nitrogen deposition have emerged as major threats, disrupting the delicate chemical balance of bark and rock substrates where this epiphytic moss establishes. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering precipitation patterns and temperature regimes that affect the moisture-dependent reproductive cycles of this bryophyte species.
Where does spurred broom moss live?
spurred broom moss occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to spurred broom moss?
The main threats to spurred broom moss are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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