Germany's Mosses or Guide to the Knowledge of Leafy Mosses in Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Denmark for Beginners as well as Researchers. Mosses are generally small and grow relatively slowly. Therefore, they are at a competitive disadvantage compared to higher plants. As a result, they often occupy locations that cannot be colonized by these plants: rocks, bark, and leaves as almost nutrient-free sites, forest floors as very dark locations, as well as open and disturbed areas. Where mosses are common, such as in mountain forests and bogs, they play an important ecological role in the nutrient cycle, as they filter nutrients from precipitation, and also contribute to the water cycle, as they can filter fog and to some extent store precipitation. As a habitat, mosses play a role for small wildlife.