Format: ORAL

Jairo Robla1, Vctor Gonzlez-Garca2, Sara Santamarina3, Pablo Aguado-Ramsay4, Mikel Artazkoz5

1. Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Sevilla (Spain). 2. Instituto Mixto de Investigación en Biodiversidad - IMIB (Univ. Oviedo - CSIC - Princ. Asturias), Mieres (Spain). 3. Universidad de León, León (Spain). 4. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid (Spain). 5. Universidad Pública de Navarra, Pamplona (Spain).

The luminous moss, Schistostega pennata (Hedw.) F.Weber D.Mohr, is a Holarctic moss known for its unique green-emerald glowing protonema when exposed to sunlight. This distinctive feature has inspired several stories surrounding this intriguing feature. The distribution in the Iberian Peninsula represents the westernmost extent in Europe, with only 73 confirmed locations to date. It thrivs primarily in challenging environments such as caves, mines, and crevices, making the discovery of new populations a complex task. Despite its uniqueness, S. pennata faces conservation concerns and is categorised as Vulnerable or near Threatened in several Iberian Red Lists. Yet, the criteria for such designations remain unclear. To enhance understanding and contribute to the conservation efforts of this species, the Searching for the Brillfito project was initiated. This project leverages citizen science to gather data on the distribution, ecology, and conservation status of the luminous moss. A comprehensive scientific communication campaign through newspapers, social media, and lectures was also launched to raise awareness and engage the public in moss-related initiatives. The response exceeded expectations, with citizens locating more than 15 new populations across the Iberian Peninsula. Some of these populations revealed new habitats not previously described for the Iberian populations. Interestingly, some were discovered in areas not predicted as optimal by the first species distribution model for the species, highlighting the complexity of understanding the ecological requirements of the species. Many questions remain regarding its ecology and biology in the Iberian Peninsula. These include the scarcity of populations, the mechanisms of dispersal and connectivity between them, the relationship with other non-Iberian populations, and whether luminescence could have an associated function not previously described. Unravelling these mysteries will require further research and an understanding of the role of the moss in its unique ecosystems.