A summary of progress: the first 15 years of the Tropical Bryology Group Michelle Price1 & Brian O'Shea2 1 Conservatoire et ]ardin botaniques de la Ville de Geneve) Case postale 601 CH- 1292 Chambe.ry/GE) Switzerland 2141 FawnbrakeAvenue) London) SE24 OBG Introduction Formation of the TBG The Tropical Bryology Group (TBG) was created with a view to encouraging and The formation of a Tropical Bryology Group promoting research on tropical bryophytes. It was first proposed by Longton (1985a, b) who has been successful, perhaps even beyond the stressed the need to fo cus bryological research expectations of its founders, in achieving its efforts on tropical areas. The tropics, in original objectives. The TBG, specifically the comparison to temperate zones, were core members of the group, have contributed to bryologically under-recorded and remained at a) increasing the knowledge of certain poorly­ greater risk from habitat destruction as areas known tropical areas, b) the scientific were exploited for their rich resources. It was understanding of certain taxonomic groups, and considered especially important to encourage c) collecting efforts and herbarium activities in collaboration and co-operation between the several countries. They have produced over 50 members of a TBG and bryologists working in publications resulting directly from their TBG the tropics. involvement (see bibliography) . The main fo cus of research has been the African bryophyte The TBG was formed as a result of an informal flora. A website for the TBG has been meeting of interested parties during the annual developed to contain and allow access to this meeting of the British Bryological Society in rich source of tropical bryological information Leeds in 1986; the sixteen attendees discussed and resources. setting up a TBG, its aims and objectives, co­ ordination of actions, and particular matters of After 15 years, and with a change of TBG co­ interest to each party. The group was finally ordinator, it seems timely to review the progress initiated in 1988, when its objectives were agreed made by the TBG between 1986 and 2002. This and a report prepared by Martin Wigginton was review is based on the original TBG discussion discussed. This document included various document (see publication 1 on the TBG website, proposals for the activities of the group, based currently at www.nhm.ac.uk/hosted_sites/bbstbg). on suggestions made by all the interested parties. Future directions of the TBG were reviewed at The original proposals are summarised here in the 2003 AGM and will be considered the following sections, with comments on elsewhere. progress since 1986 shown in italics. 23 Field Bryologynumber 83 Review of the proposals in the TBG reserves and other wildlife areas) and on discussion document practical matters such as travel and export of collections; [This has not been done fo rmalfy, Collecting although itiformaladvice has been given to a number ifin dividuals.] It was agreed that systematic collecting of • assist BBS members in overseas collecting bryophytes was one of the most urgent tasks trips, either as individuals or as a group; because of the rapid and continuing loss of [Ma�ry TBG members continue to act in this habitats, especially in the tropics. Africa was capaciry.] subject to the least bryological fo cus and was • organise surveys in threatened areas and considered to be a region where the greatest habitats; [This has been achieved in part but bryological contribution could be made. remains an ongoing concern as more habitats come Literature for that continent was poor or lacking under threat.] for many countries/regions, and previous • collaborate in major research initiatives, such collecting efforts had fo cused mostly on hot­ as those based in Korup, Cameroon, or spots such as Mt Kilimanjaro. The TBG could Gunung Mulu, Borneo. [This has not been done. do the following: Insteatifocus was directed towards regional collecting activities, e.g. in Ug anda and Malawi. The reason • advise on the most important and threatened for this was the lack ifinterest within such research areas; [The InternationalAssociation ifBry ologists prqjects in supporting bryopi!Jte-orientated activities - (JAB) have since undertaken this oijective, but the the TBG would have had to work in areas ifli mited inputfor Afr ica was from members ifthe TBG.] bryological interest or in areas that had alreacfy been • . advise on how to collect in the tropics, on documented.] the habitats and niches of bryophytes, on the care of collections, etc; advise on the Herbaria documentation of collections, stressing the importance of good collecting and full It was noted that there were many un-worked documentation; advise on photographic bryophyte collections in private and national documentation; establish links with university herbaria in the UK, and possibly collections that expedition groups, seeking to stimulate remained undocumented within local and interest in bryophyte collecting; and prepare national institutions. It was considered a 'Guide to bryophyte collecting in the important that the TBG assisted with this by: tropics'; [These oijectives have mostfy been achieveti and documents are available on the TBG website. A • locating collections of tropical material held guide to bryopi!Jte eo/lectin& specimen processin& in local institutions or privately in Britain, herbarium techniques and literature for the tropics and maintaining an inventory of these has been published (O 'Shea, 1989).] herbaria, including details of the state of the • establish links with other organisations, such collections (e.g. whether the collections are as the Royal Geographical Society, armed identified, fully documented, etc.); [This was services expedition groups, Operation done but the information gathered was erratic and Raleigh, etc., if collecting can be encouraged unreliable, and the document waswithdrawn from the by these means; [This has not been done, mainfy TBG website. It would be worthprepa ring a revised because their focus has been on oijectives and areas documentfor the website.] that were not compatible with usiful bryological • sorting and documenting un-worked activiry.] collections held in institutions, including • act as a source of information on places in documenting information from herbarium which to collect (national parks, nature packets. This should be readily possible for 24 Tropical Bryology Group: summary of progress small collections, but daunting indeed for the Research larger ones held at the London Natural .History Museum (BM); [This has been achieved It was felt that the TBG could make significant in part forsome collections at BM but reviewing other contributions to taxonomic and ecological collections proved difficult fo r two main reasons: research in the tropics by: t. Becoming aware of the existence of collections. Information is onfy available at some herbaria1 • undertaking primary taxonomic research, and and the mqjor collections are at BM. Maf!Y advising on methods; advising on research herbaria will onfy allow specimens to be sent to needs for taxonomic groups and other herbaria1 and not to private individuals1 geographical areas; and specialising in although BM allowed un-accessioned unidentified particular taxonomic groups; [These points have material to be sent out for the Mosses and been addressed by the research carried out within the Liverworts of Uganda (MALOU) project. framework ofthe Malawi and Ug anda proj ects (s ee tt. Identijjing the specimens. The difficulties of bibliography) and TBG reports and newsletters on identijjing tropical African collections became the website).] clear following the Malawi expedition. Although • establishing a panel of referees as our participants came fa irfy quickfy up to speed in expertise develops; [This has been developed identifying to the level offa mify and genus1 some during the work on collections from Malawi and genera are more or less impossible to work on Ug anda. Co-ordinators are available forall African without taxonomic revisions. This brought to the fa milies1 who can either confirm identifications or fore the idea of a foraF offa milies and genera for pass specimens on to other experts.] Afri ca1 as a first step (G uide to Bryophytes • holding regular workshops to enhance the of Africa (GBA)).] expertise of the whole group. Individual • acting as a focus for the exchange of members could tutor on their specialisation; specimens, and for loans of collections. [The [One workshop was held in Cambridge on 21 TBG has no rfficial herbarium or reference collection1 September 19901 and was attendedby 14peopl e.] and thus exchanges and loans of collections have • co-ordinating studies of un-worked herbaria, mostfy been done through arrangements between t individuals and sourcedfr om private herbaria.] wi h a view to placing specimens in at least a broad taxonomic group. Indeed, even 'moss' Data storage andproces sing or 'hepatic' written on a herbarium packet would be a step forward; [This �vork has been The increasing importance of computers and undertaken by TBG members1 especialfyfocus ing on computer programs was noted. It was suggested Ug andan collections at the BM (e.g. F. Rose's that TBG members could benefit from better collections). However, herbaria still hold thousands of data handling, for instance in maintaining well-documented but as yet unidentified specimens databases on the locations of tropical herbaria, from interesting areas.] and lists of taxa, collections, specialists, locations