In 2023, the Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project received a grant of £93,000 from Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme aimed at protecting the vulnerable Crystal Moss Animal, scientifically known as Lophopus crystallinus. The project’s primary goal became an effort to gain insights into the species’ ecological requirements and to implement local and national surveys for identifying colonies.
Building on the success of this initial effort, a second round of funding was granted in March 2025, amounting to £45,000, to further enhance the conservation of this fragile species through research into potential translocation methods and the exploration of genetic diversity within its populations in partnership with University of Nottingham and The Deep.
What is a Crystal Moss Animal
The crystal moss animal is a freshwater invertebrate species of bryozoan and is one of eleven freshwater Bryozoa found in Britain, and the only member of the family Lophopodidae found in the UK. Now regarded as threatened in the UK, with a formal classification as ‘RARE’ in the British Red Data Book of Invertebrates Other than Insects, and is currently listed as a priority species in Section 41 of The Natural Environment and Rural Communities act 2006.
Populations appear to have suffered severe declines in recent decades. Having once been a common sight in places such as the Norfolk Broads, this beautiful filter feeder is an important part of freshwater ecosystems, helping to cycle nutrients between aquatic and terrestrial biomes, as well as contributing important ecosystem services for human and non-human life through the purification of freshwater.
L.crystallinus reproduce both sexually and asexually, though sexual reproduction is rarely observed and remains poorly documented. Asexual reproduction occurs through the budding of new zooids from an existing colony. Each zooid can produce two identical offspring, enabling rapid growth. When a colony reaches its size limit, (typically up to 40 zooids) it may fragment, giving rise to new colonies. Additionally, statoblasts are capable of surviving extreme environmental conditions such as drought or freezing, enabling resilience in fluctuating habitats.
Conservation strategy for Lophopus crystallinus (Crystal Moss Animal) in Greater Lincolnshire 2025
About the funding
“Little is known as to why the crystal moss is only found in one of greater Lincolnshire’s blow well sites.
“We are delighted to support this project to gain understanding and boost the long term prospects of this internationally important species.”
Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme (SRP) supports targeted action for England’s most vulnerable species. The Government’s Environment Act targets for species created renewed focus and Natural England developed a Capital Grant Scheme designed to support a wide range of new projects through grants of up to half a million pounds.