Although many mosses are found in cool, low light environments, several species are abundant in drylands where they are common and important members of biological soil crusts (biocrusts). Biocrusts are complex communities of bryophytes, lichens, fungi, cyanobacteria, and other microorganisms living on the surface of soil in drylands (Belnap et al., 2003). These communities provide critical ecosystem services such as reducing erosion, increasing soil fertility and water infiltration, and even facilitating germination of native seeds while reducing germination of large-appendaged exotic seeds (Harper and Belnap, 2001; Belnap, 2002, 2006; Belnap et al., 2003; Hawkes, 2004; Li et al., 2005; Su et al., 2007). Mosses play important roles in biocrusts, such as contributing to both soil stability via rhizoids and soil formation via capture of nutrient-rich fine particles (Seppelt et al., 2016). Moreover, in some dryland ecosystems, biocrust mosses control the overall carbon balance by reaching peak photosynthetic activity during winter months when surrounding shrubs are dormant (Zaady et al., 2000; Jasoni et al., 2005). However, Mojave Desert mosses are faced with being