SECRET BEAUTY OF FRESHWATER: ‘‘AQUARIUM MOSSES’’

Bryophytes are the oldest of all land plants and are believed to be the closest remaining linkbetween land and aquatic plants. Their soft tissue makes fossil records bleak but the oldest evidencethat has so far been found can be dated back to almost 500 million years ago. Spore-like structures ofa liverwort were found in Argentinian rock dated to 473-471 million years old. The first evidence ofmosses appears much more recently between fossils aged between 299-250 million years old. Due tothe poor preservation of Bryophyte species, it is quite possible that the Bryophytes are significantlyolder.The bryophytes are the second largest group, exceeded only by the Magnoliophyta – theflowering plants (350,000 species). Their nearest algal relatives appear to be members of theCharophyta. Bryophytes are generally considered the first land plants. The role of bryophytes in theecosystem is significant despite their small size.Aquatic mosses are generally chosen for their aesthetic qualities; they can also contribute toimproved water quality. As photosynthesizing plants, aquatic mosses absorb nutrients in youraquarium water, including nitrates, from the water column. Where other plants require high lightlevels to accomplish this, or a regular fertilizing regime, aquatic mosses are effective nitrate removerswithout high light levels or fertilizer.Bryophytes are the oldest of all land plants and are believed to be the closest remaining linkbetween land and aquatic plants. Their soft tissue makes fossil records bleak but the oldest evidencethat has so far been found can be dated back to almost 500 million years ago. Spore-like structures ofa liverwort were found in Argentinian rock dated to 473-471 million years old. The first evidence ofmosses appears much more recently between fossils aged between 299-250 million years old. Due tothe poor preservation of Bryophyte species, it is quite possible that the Bryophytes are significantlyolder.The bryophytes are the second largest group, exceeded only by the Magnoliophyta – theflowering plants (350,000 species). Their nearest algal relatives appear to be members of theCharophyta. Bryophytes are generally considered the first land plants. The role of bryophytes in theecosystem is significant despite their small size.Aquatic mosses are generally chosen for their aesthetic qualities; they can also contribute toimproved water quality. As photosynthesizing plants, aquatic mosses absorb nutrients in youraquarium water, including nitrates, from the water column. Where other plants require high lightlevels to accomplish this, or a regular fertilizing regime, aquatic mosses are effective nitrate removerswithout high light levels or fertilizer