2022-04-28
Unveiling the nature of a miniature world: a horizon scan of fundamental questions in bryology
Publication
Publication
Journal of Bryology , Volume 44 - Issue 1 p. 1- 34
Introduction Half a century since the creation of the International Association of Bryologists, we carried out a review to identify outstanding challenges and future perspectives in bryology. Specifically, we have identified 50 fundamental questions that are critical in advancing the discipline. Methods We have adapted a deep-rooted methodology of horizon scanning to identify key research foci. An initial pool of 258 questions was prepared by a multidisciplinary and international working group of 32 bryologists. A series of online surveys completed by a broader community of researchers in bryology, followed by quality-control steps implemented by the working group, were used to create a list of top-priority questions. This final list was restricted to 50 questions with a broad conceptual scope and answerable through realistic research approaches. Key results The top list of 50 fundamental questions was organised into four general topics: Bryophyte Biodiversity and Biogeography; Bryophyte Ecology, Physiology and Reproductive Biology; Bryophyte Conservation and Management; and Bryophyte Evolution and Systematics. These topics included 9, 19, 14 and 8 questions, respectively. Conclusions Although many of the research challenges identified are not newly conceived, our horizon-scanning exercise has established a significant foundation for future bryological research. We suggest analytical and conceptual strategies and novel developments for potential use in advancing the research agenda for bryology.
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| doi.org/10.1080/03736687.2022.2054615 | |
| Journal of Bryology | |
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Patiño, Jairo, Bisang, Irene, Goffinet, Bernard, Hedenäs, Lars, McDaniel, Stuart, Pressel, Silvia, … Vanderpoorten, Alain. (2022). Unveiling the nature of a miniature world: a horizon scan of fundamental questions in bryology. Journal of Bryology, 44(1), 1–34. doi:10.1080/03736687.2022.2054615 |
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