Moss Safari

Exploring the Secret Life in Moss

Andrew Chandler-Grevatt

An accessible and fun introduction to the dynamic microecosystem of moss.
Photographs and detailed stories of the Big Five microorganisms found in moss.
Stories of how these microscopic organisms live their lives, affect our lives and answers they may offer about life and survival.

Subject: botany-plant-science-forestry microbiology ecology

Tags:

botany
bryophyte
Coming Soon
ecology
microbiology
moss
plant ecology
taxonomy

Description

Embark on an extraordinary journey into the hidden world of moss. Just like adventurers seeking the Big Five animals on an African safari, we invite you to discover the wonders of the microscopic Big Five organisms that dwell within the mosses on our roofs, walls and pavements. Let’s go on a Moss Safari!

On your journey into this miniature universe, your guide will reveal the secrets of this hidden realm. Here, you’ll soon encounter those microscopic Big Five: the robust moss mites, the excitable nematodes, the adaptable rotifers, the resilient tardigrades and the elusive gastrotrichs. Each of these remarkable organisms possesses astonishing adaptations to survive in this surprisingly harsh habitat. As Andrew unveils the behaviour and ecology of these little-known organisms, you'll find yourself captivated by their intriguing stories, shedding light on their significance in evolution, global ecosystems and even in medical breakthroughs. Each animal is the subject of cutting-edge scientific research and much of the science is not yet done.

Whether an armchair naturalist, a student of biology or an amateur microscopist, you will be entranced by this quest and will never see moss in the same way again. Be prepared to get inspired and maybe pick up your own microscope to embark on a search to find the Big Five.

DOI: 10.53061/LZZO4886

Foreword by Dr George McGavin
Acknowledgements

Introduction
1 Moss Safari Briefing: The Ecosystem
2 Moss Safari Briefing: The Big Five Animals
3 Mites
4 Nematodes
5 Rotifers
6 Tardigrades
7 Gastrotrichs
8 Beyond the Big Five
9 Doing Your Own Moss Safari
10 Expedition Review
Appendix 1: Tree of Life and the Big Five
Appendix 2: Geological history of the Big Five
Appendix 3: Human history and the Big Five

Glossary
References
Index

Reviews

This wonderful book does an outstanding job of opening our eyes to the wealth of life in humble moss clumps. The book is highly informative but written in such an accessible and engaging manner that I can imagine teenagers who have been given it clamouring for access to a simple binocular microscope, so as to get exploring. Highly recommended.
—Michael J. Reiss, Professor of Science Education, UCL
What an incredible read! This really is the best Bryology book I’ve read since Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer. It offers such a fascinating glimpse into the hidden world of these miniature forests. This is a wonderful resource for classroom teachers and naturalists, and well worth keeping within arm’s reach of the microscope!
—Denz Fernandes, Biology Teacher, Cambridge
Perfectly balancing the practical and the inspiring, Moss Safari provides a travel guide for entering this miniature realm, a field guide for naming many of the creatures that will be seen there, and a wealth of information on their biology which for most readers will be equally unfamiliar and astounding. This book is a ticket to another world and I hope it attracts as many travellers as possible!
—Dr Neil Bell, bryologist and author of The Hidden World of Mosses

About the Author

Dr Andrew Chandler-Grevatt is an amateur naturalist with a fascination for moss and its inhabitants. Andrew has a doctorate in science education and his main job is training new science teachers at the University of Brighton. Andrew introduces the life in moss to schools, families and adult audiences through live Moss Safaris. He lives in Brighton with his husband, two dogs and a moss-covered roof that provides plenty to explore.