TBG working party minutes (13/05/88)

Minutes of the first meeting of the Working Party held at 11.00 am on Friday 13th May 1988 at the British Museum of Natural History, South Kensington.

Present: Mr D G Long, Dr R E Longton, Mr B O'Shea, Mr M J Wigginton

Agenda

1. Responses to the 14th April l988 Discussion Paper
2. Shoft-term and Longer-term Objectives concerning:
2.1 Herbaria
2.2 Research
2.3 Collecting
2.4 Literature and Information
3. Proposal for a 1 day meeting on Tropical Bryology
4. Next Meeting

1. Responses to the 14th April 1988 Discussion Paper A total of 11 written responses to the Discussion Paper had been received, 7 from U.K. and 4 from overseas members. They were generally encouraging though, not unexpectedly, there were disparate views on individual items in the Paper, and also on the possible main functions and objectives of the Tropical Group. It was felt that there was sufficient interest to justify proceeding with the establishment of such a Group.

2. Short-term and Longer-term Objectives The main aim of this first meeting of the Working Party was to decide on objectives and make firm proposals for action. The discussion was not firmly structured, but ranged widely over the items listed in the 14th April Discussion Paper. The main areas of discussion and proposals for action are as follows.

2.1. Herbaria

2.1.1. Location It is considered probable that many collections containing tropical material are held by individuals or by local institutions, such as museums, but are not generally known about or listed. The need to locate such collections was recognised.

Action: In the July BBS Bulletin, request information on the location and details of collections of tropical bryophytes held privately or in public institutions A similar request could be placed in the Museums Bulletin.

2.1.2. Sorting and Documentation A great deal of preparatory work is needed on existing herbaria, many of which are unsorted, poorly packeted, labelled or documented. It was agreed that one short-term aim of the group should be to process such herbaria. There will be a need not only for standardised labelling of packets, but where the original packets contain more than one taxon, then ideally these will need to be sorted, placed in separate packets and labelled appropriately. The requirements of each herbarium will differ, and precise guidance will need to be given on processing in each case.

A data-base would need to be set up to record the details of each collection. As a start it was proposed that the Group should coordinate the processing of unworked herbaria which are held at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh.

Action:
1) D G Long to provide a list cf all unworked collections held at the RBG, Edinburgh which require processing
2) In the July BBS Bulletin, a request for volunteers to process unworked collections

2.1.3. Loan of Material for study It was recognised that, in the longer term, the Group or individuals may need to borrow herbarium material from national and local sources, and also from overseas. Whilst visits to herbaria to study the collections usually present few problems, loans to an individual or an unrecognised group is often not possible or not allowed by the rules of the institution. It was suggested that it could be acceptable that certain U.K. institutions could act as loan agencies. BBSUK Cardiff, Reading University, and the RBG Edinburgh were suggested as possible agencies. It was recognised that the workload on such agencies could be considerable, and it would be necessary to have more than one.

Action: R E Longton to contact R Perry to enquire about the possibility of BBSUK acting as one agency.

2.1.4. Taxonomic work on herbarium material See under 2.2.1.

2.2. Research The urgent need for research at all levels in tropical bryology was recognised, and there was discussion on the more immediate and the longer-term possibilities for the Group.

2.2.1. Taxononic sorting of unworked herbaria The need for some sorting of unworked herbaria was recognised, in order to make collections more selectively available for study. Even sorting material into 'Mosses' and 'Liverworts' is better than nothing, though few specialists would relish the prospect of having to sort through such major groupings. It was proposed that the labelling and packeting of unworked herbaria should ideally be followed by sorting into broad taxonomic groups, preferably families, or if possible, genera. This is something the Group should be able to achieve, at least imperfectly and in part. The Group could advise on appropriate literature.

2.2.2. Revisions / Monographic work It was agreed that, whilst there is an urgent need for such research, it was not something the Group could undertake in the shorter term. However, primary taxonomic work should be considered by the Group as a longer-term aim. Individual members may, in due course, wish to carry out taxonomic research or specialise in a particular taxonomic group. This latter is seen as particularly valuable, and could develop into some sort of refereeing system. The matter requires further thought and discussion.

2.2.3. African Bryoflora There was discussion on the world-wide needs of tropical bryology. It was considered that, though the remit of the Group would encompass the whole of the tropic region, it would be of benefit to focus on and specialise in a more discrete area. Both S.E. Asia and the Neotropics are extremely rich in species, and research effort in both areas has been considerable, especially in recent years. By contrast, the tropical African bryoflora is much less rich, and the continent has been rather more neglected. For these reasons, the Group considers that it would be appropriate to concentrate effort in that continent, at least in the initial period.

2.3. Collecting There was considerable discussion on the need for continued collecting in the Tropics, not only for primary taxonomic research and to assist in the recognition of areas of bryological importance, but also to gather material from areas destined for inevitable destruction.

2.3.1. A Guide to Collecting A priority task was recognised to be the production of a Guide to bryological collecting in the tropics. This would include advice on collecting, preservation and documentation, and on ecological, phytogeographical and related topics. A primary aim of the document would be to provide advice to collectors who are not bryologists but who may participate, for instance, in student expeditions. The document should also be of use to BBS members travelling overseas.

Action: B O'Shea to produce a rough draft of a 'Guide to Collecting in the Tropics'.

2.3.2. Proposal for a study and collecting trip It was felt by all members of the Working Group that we should investigate the possibility of a survey and collecting trip to the tropics as an early priority. It was considered that a visit to Africa was most appropriate since
1) the bryophyte flora is inherently less rich and complex than that of the Americas and S.E. Asia, and
2) many areas (countries) are extremely poorly-known bryologically, and such a visit would be correspondingly valuable.
There was some discussion on possible locations and habitats, and it was agreed that comments and opinions of other members of the Group and the Society should be sought. It was further agreed to publicise the proposal in the next BBS Bulletin to see what support the proposal might have.

Action: To determine the degree of interest in an overseas trip by publicising the proposals in the July BBS Bulletin, and eliciting opinions of members.

2.3.4. Funding There was a small amount of discussion on funding which, it is recognised, is generally extremely hard to come by. Possible sources should however be investigated. It was recognised that it would not be appropriate for the Tropical Group as a separate entity to seek funding for an overseas trip, but should be handed centrally via BBS Council. However, some 'off-the-record' investigations could be made.

Action: M Wigginton to make a preliminary investigation of possible sources of funding, but not 'officially' on behalf of BBS.

2.4. Literature and Information There was discussion on the availability and accessibility of literature for taxomomic work. It was noted that Dr S Greene's Conspectus of World Taxonomic Literature is soon to be published, and will assist greatly in locating appropriate texts.

There was discussion on how to make the more specialised literature available to members who do not have ready access to University libraries, Inter-Library loans, etc. The BBS Library holds some standard texts and subscribes to the main bryological journals. It was thought, however, that there is no up-to-date holdings list. So far as the more specialised literature is concerned, it was proposed that the Tropical Group should seek to maintain its own library of papers / xeroxes. The Group could advise the BBS Librarian on appropriate purchases. It was clear that there is a natural reluctance of individuals to make available for general loan their own literature holdings. The practicalities of making literature available requires further consideration.

There was very little discussion on data-handling, and B O'Shea agreed to take on all matters relating to computers and data-handling.

3. Proposal for a 1 day Meeting on Tropical Bryology A proposal was made that a 1-day meeting of the Tropical Group be held to present some short papers on tropical bryology topics, followed by a general discussion. Some suggested topics included:
1) problems of tropical taxonomic work
2) writing a monograph
3) literature and databases
The meeting would provide an ideal opportunity for a general discussion on the proposals for a study-collecting trip, and this may enable firmer proposals to be made. It was suggested that the day before the Autumn Meeting might be a suitable time.

Action: In the July BBS Bulletin, propose a meeting for Friday 11th September 1988, and elicit response from members.

4. Next Meeting The next meeting of the Working Party to be held in Edinburgh during the International Symposium on Bryophyte Ecology, July 1988.

M.J. Wigginton
30 June 1988