What Bryophytes Are and Why They Matter

Mosses are part of a group of plants called bryophytes. These are some of the simplest plants on Earth, lacking true stems, leaves, roots, or seeds. Their simple structure allows them to absorb water and nutrients directly from their surroundings, enabling them to thrive in moist, shaded environments where many more complex plants struggle to survive.

Figure 1. How Moss Is Helping Solve Scientific Puzzles.

Some bryophytes are highly sensitive to their surroundings, with different species thriving only under very specific conditions. “Because they’re so small, they occupy all sorts of microhabitats,” explains von Konrat. “Even if an area appears to be a single type of habitat, mosses can find their preferred spot—in the shade, up in the canopy, or even under grasses. And smaller organisms living on those mosses can provide additional clues. This makes mosses a valuable tool for forensic scientists trying to confirm the location of a crime.” Figure 1 shows How Moss Is Helping Solve Scientific Puzzles.

Reviewing 150 Years of Forensic Botany

In 2024, Jenna Merkel, then a Master’s student in forensic science at George Washington University, joined von Konrat as an intern at the Field Museum. “I thought, why don’t we review how bryophytes have been used in forensics?” von Konrat recalls. “So, we examined 150 years of scientific literature to see how these plants had been applied in investigations. The surprising answer was: not very much.”

The earliest case the team uncovered dates back to 1929, when investigators used the growth rate of moss on a decomposing skeleton to estimate the time of death. Over the past century, bryophytes have played a role in at least ten other cases across Finland, Sweden, Italy, China, and the United States, helping determine when, where, or how a crime occurred.

A Michigan Case Where Moss Helped Locate a Burial

The researchers’ paper also provides the first in-depth scientific record of a case von Konrat and several co-authors had consulted on a decade earlier.

In 2011, a baby girl named Kate was killed by her father, and her body could not be located. The father, however, gave police general information about the burial site in northern Michigan. Investigators also found microscopic bits of plant material on his shoes. In 2013, von Konrat led a team of botanists and volunteers to survey the local grasses, trees, and mosses, searching for a site where the dozen plant species found on the father’s shoes matched the environment.

“There are hundreds of species of moss and dozens of species of grasses and trees in that area,” says von Konrat. “But based on the moss fragments, we knew what type of microhabitat to look for.” Using this approach, the team identified a small area of about 50 square feet as the likely burial site of Baby Kate—narrowed down from the seven counties law enforcement had initially searched. In a police interview, her father confirmed that this was indeed the location where he had buried his daughter.

The Future Role of Bryophytes in Forensic Investigations

The paper’s authors hope that bryophytes will continue to aid justice and provide closure for families affected by violence.

“Plants, and specifically bryophytes, represent an often-overlooked but powerful source of forensic evidence,” says Merkel. “They can help investigators link people, places, and events. With this paper, we aim to raise awareness of forensic botany and encourage law enforcement to recognize the value of even the tiniest plant fragments in their investigations.”

Source: SciTECHDaily

Cite this article:

Priyadharshini S (2025), How Moss is Cracking Unexpected Scientific Mysteries, AnaTechMaz, pp.1238