苔藓植物是自然界的拓荒者之一, 具有很强的耐寒、耐旱、耐瘠薄等抗逆性状。高山冰缘带通常被认为是陆地上最为极端的生境之一。本项目拟选择中国经度相近，维度从高到低，代表性较高的新疆阿尔泰山友谊峰冰川、天山一号冰川、西藏唐古拉山大冬克玛底冰川和珠穆朗玛峰东绒布冰川退缩迹地作为研究区, 研究苔藓植物的生物多样性（物种多样性、遗传多样性）、生态位、分布格局与群落特征等多方面内容，摸清冰缘特殊环境下苔藓植物的繁殖策略、扩散策略及生理生态适应特征。探明苔藓植物在不同冰川退缩迹地植被原生演替中的作用。模拟高寒冰缘环境条件, 研究模式植物小立碗藓的钙信号变化。探讨在极端寒冷干旱生境条件下的苔藓植物将寒冷和干旱这样的物理和化学信号转变为生物信号的分子机理。本研究项目将拓宽苔藓植物生态学研究的研究领域和区域，并深化苔藓植物抗寒抗旱的机理研究。从而充实和发展冰川冻土、寒区植物的发育、演化和寒区生态学研究。

Bryophytes, with strong ability tolerant to cold, drought and，barren environments, are one kind of pioneer plants in succession processes. This project intends to investigate biodiversity (including species diversity and genetic diversity), distribution pattern, communities characteristics of bryophytes in four representative glaciers from south to north in western China, including No.1 Glacier, Tianshan and Youyi Feng Glacier, Mt. Altai in Xinjiang, and Big Dongkemadi Glacier, Tanggula Mt. and East Rongbuk Glacier, Mt. Qomolangma in Tibet, respectively. Reproductive strategy，dispersal strategy, and physiological ecological adaptation characteristics will be explored at the same time. What is the role of bryophytes in native vegetation succession process after glacial retreat will be understood. Research on calcium signal changes of Physcomitrella patens under simulated alpine peri-glacial environmental conditions will be carried out. The molecular mechanism of how bryophytes transfer physical and chemical signals, including low temperature and drought, to biological ones will be investigated. The result will broaden research areas and fields of bryology, and deepen understanding and move the research field of drought-resistance and frigid-resistance mechanism of bryophytes. Ecology in cold and arid regions and knowledge about development and evolution of plants in glacier and permafrost regions are expected to be enriched.