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Mosses that usually exist as gametophytes lack true roots, stems, and leaves, and their physiological activity is highly sensitive to environmental changes. The increase of diurnal temperature range (DTR) is one of the important characteristics of global climate change, but it is still unclear how mosses respond to the change of DTR. The typical drought-tolerant and saxicolous moss Grimmia pilifera was used as the research subject, two DTR treatments were set up: 20/10 ℃ (day/night; as CK) and 30/10 ℃ (day/night; as increased DTR). After homogenized cultivation, three dehydration-rehydration cycles and physiological measurements were conducted on days 7, 14, and 21 to investigate the comprehensive response of mosses to change in DTR over time. The results showed that during the dehydration phase, G. pilifera under the 20/10 ℃ treatment exhibited significantly higher photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fo and Fv/Fm) compared with the 30/10 ℃ treatment, while the quantum yield for thermal dissipation (φDo) was significantly lower (P < 0.01). In contrast, the opposite trend was observed during the rehydration phase. With prolonged dehydration time, both temperature treatments showed decreased Fv/Fo and Fv/Fm and increased φDo, DIo/RC, and ABS/RC after 24 hours of dehydration compared with 2 hours. Relative water content (RWC) declined over time during dehydration, and upon rehydration RWC recovery was significantly lower under the 30/10 ℃ treatment than under 20/10 ℃ (P < 0.05). Overall, the 30/10°C treatment had a more pronouncedly negative effect on MDA content, exhibited lower activity of antioxidant enzymes (primarily CAT), and showed higher levels of osmotic adjustment substances (PRO, SP). The plant trait network analysis revealed that the core traits on days 7, 14, and 21 under the 20/10 ℃ treatment were RWC, PI abs, and ETo/RC, respectively; while under the 30/10 ℃ treatment, the core traits were PI abs, SP, and PRO content, respectively. The stability of trait network structure was higher under the 20/10 ℃ treatment than under 30/10 ℃. Analysis of pooled data showed that the core traits under both treatments were photosynthetic parameters (Fv/Fo under 20/10 ℃ and PI abs under 30/10 ℃), indicating that G. pilifera exhibited differential changes in trait network structure and core traits over time under varying DTRs, but overall relied on coordinated regulation of the photosynthetic system to cope with environmental stress. These findings provide new physiological and ecological insights into how mosses respond to global climate change.