Optimising Artificial Moss Growth for Environmental Studies in the Mediterranean Area.

Bryophytes are poikilohydric organisms that play a key role in ecosystems, while some of them are also resistant to drought and environmental disturbances but present a slow growth rate. Moss culture in the laboratory can be a very useful tool for ecological restoration or the development of urban green spaces (roof and wall) in the Mediterranean region. Therefore, we aim to: (i) determine the optimal culture conditions for the growth of four moss species present in the Mediterranean climate, such as , , and ; (ii) study the optimal growth conditions of the invasive moss to find out if it can be a threat to native species.