TBG Working Group meeting, 15 February 1990
Notes of meeting of the BBS Tropical Bryology Working Group, 15th February 1990, held in the Cryptogamic Herbarium, British Museum (Natural History).
Present: David Long, Royce Longton, Brian O'Shea (notes), Martin Wigginton.
1. Review of progress
1.1 Information on herbaria with tropical holdings. A preliminary list had been circulated prior to the meeting, which was discussed. A revised list is at Appendix A. The list also shows those herbaria where further information was to be sought, and who is to be contacted, and by whom. Brian O'Shea was to produce a standard letter to send to herbaria asking about their tropical holdings, and whether any tropical material was still unworked.
1.2 Unworked tropical collections. A list has been provided by David Long of the unworked tropical collections at Edinburgh, but no others have been received. Three members had offered to help in this area: Richard Fisk, Nick Hodgetts and Ron Porley. In order to speed progress in this area, David Long agreed to produce some brief guidelines on how to process unworked collections (e.g. sorting, labelling etc.). This was seen to be an essential first step in leading to preliminary identifications (e.g. rough family and genus), sending for specialist advice, and eventually phytogeographic or taxonomic work. This would also be useful in trying to identify future potential specialists in tropical taxa.
1.3 BBSUK to act as an agency for taxonomic work by 'amateurs' Royce Longton had written to Roy Perry on 1st December 1989 about this, but received no reply. Brian O'Shea to follow up.
1.4 Publication of 'Guide to Collecting' Now with Jennifer Ide, awaiting pricing before distribution. Royce Longton to write to Jennifer suggesting a lowest possible price. Brian O'Shea to contact Roy Perry about whether he had received information about this for publication in the Bulletin. A proposed list of 10 recipients was suggested, in addition to the 12 who had contributed to the booklet. This was seen as a positive attempt to encourage bryological activity in the tropics, and to show those working in the tropics that the BBS was acting seriously and responsibly.
1.5 Collecting trip to tropical Africa See item 3 below.
1.6 Investigation of funding See item 3 below.
1.7 Tropical literature for the BBS Library A draft initial list had been circulated prior to the meeting. A couple of areas were identified as being absent: Koponen et al (Huon Peninsula series) and Frahm & Gradstein (Bryotrop papers). It was agreed that Brian O'Shea send the list to Ken Adams to see what items were already in the library, before a proposed acquisitions list was drawn up.
1.8 Proposal to hold a one day meeting on a tropical theme The tropical content of the BBS Cambridge meeting is discussed at para. 6 below. In relation to item 5 below, it was thought that it was important to arrange a general meeting of those interested as soon as possible, but that it would now have to be after the July Bulletin. The day before the Cambridge meeting (i.e. 21st September) was proposed. Brian O'Shea agreed to contact Philip Lightowlers about this. A workshop seemed most appropriate, to familiarise people with the tropics and tropical taxonomic groups. If Rob Gradstein could be persuaded to come, he would be ideal for this. Similarly Cliff Townsend was proposed. Although no money has yet been agreed, Royce Longton was asked to write to Rob to see whether he could come if invited, and whether he could contribute to a workshop. If Cambridge was not possible as a venue, Monks Wood was proposed. A 'business' meeting was proposed for the following day at Cambridge, when it was thought that more people were likely to be able to attend. See 5 below.
2. Future projects A list of proposed future activities was included in the TBG circular of 20th November 1989, but all of these activities are already in hand, or covered elsewhere on the agenda, or not considered of great interest at this stage. This would be reviewed in the wider forum proposed at 5 below.
3. Tropical trip A letter from Shaun Russell was circulated. This proposed a trip to Malawi, the African logistics of which would largely be managed by Shaun. David Long had already replied that the proposed date of June/July 1990 would be too soon for us, but that we would write again following this meeting. The proposal was met with great enthusiasm - it was seen as perfect for both locality and facilities, although a maximum of three weeks was seen as realistic (three weeks would probably allow only two weeks for collecting).
Sponsorship for such a trip was seen as most likely from the Royal Society, the British Council and the Missouri Botanical Garden. It was thought that something like a Mount Milanje bryophyte flora would a necessary end product if such funding was to be obtained. Royce Longton and David Long agreed to pursue the arrangements at the UK end. This would involve making the case for the trip (why we wanted to go, what was to be achieved, what the benefits and costs would be), and should be supported by an invitation preferably from Malawi. Martin Wigginton agreed to circulate a copy of a letter he had received from the Zomba Herbarium that might suffice.
It was thought very strongly that there should be a leader of the expedition who would have the responsibility of deciding who should go, particularly if more wished to go than were feasible. Three or four was the suggested maximum for a party, but possibly up to four parties could be supported with two vehicles.
Royce Longton agreed to write to Shaun, the letter to include the mentioning of: three weeks maximum duration (would he still be interested in such a short trip), in June/July 1991; cost per head of food, lodging, transport; consideration that most attendees would know little about tropical bryophytes; assumption that he would coordinate all aspects at African end. David Long and Royce Longton would then progress appropriately based on Shaun's reply, and circulate to all those interested. David Long would report on this and other TBG matters at the April 1990 BBS Council Meeting. Brian O'Shea would ask Martha Newton to add an agenda item. Brian O'Shea would ask Roy Perry whether it was still possible to get a note in the Bulletin about the tropical trip.
4. Aims and objectives The purpose of the TBG was seen in general as the facilitation of work on tropical bryophytes, but it was thought that a suitable form of words should be agreed at a future membership meeting (see 5 below). Brian O'Shea agreed to provide a draft statement.
5. Future organisation and membership There had been several demands to widen the TBG, and it was proposed that a meeting be arranged at the September 1990 BBS meeting in Cambridge to formalise this widening of the group, and to elect some sort of committee to control the group, and a newsletter to keep the group informed. Brian O'Shea would produce something for the July Bulletin proposing this, and would also contact Philip Lightowlers to get the meeting mentioned in the programme. In addition, it was proposed that a workshop be arranged on the day immediately prior to the BBS Meeting (i.e 21st September) on tropical matters (see 1.8 above). Martin Wigginton would write to all those who had expressed an interest in the TBG to let them know what was going on.
6. BBS Meeting, Cambridge, Sept. 1990. The BBS Cambridge Meeting (22nd to 23rd September) will now have four papers on tropical matters. Brian O'Shea reported that Philip Lightowlers had requested assistance in suggestions for speakers, and the following were proposed: Jeff Duckett (he has already offered), Rob Gradstein and/or Tomas Pocs (these two to be contacted after the BBS Council has discussed whether there will be money available), Shaun Russell (if he will be in the UK - Royce Longton to check when he writes about item 3 below), Paul Richards and/or Eustace Jones, Cliff Townsend (e.g. 'collecting as an amateur'), Alan Eddy (e.g. writing a tropical flora), Alan Harrington (something taxonomic). Brian O'Shea would feed this back to Philip Lightowlers.
7. Any Other Business There was no other business.
8. Date of Next Meeting The next meeting was likely to be at the BBS meeting in Cambridge in September.
BBS Tropical Bryology Group - Action points 15th February 1990:
1.1 Brian O'Shea - produce standard letter to send to herbaria and individuals who may have tropical collections.
1.1 All - contact herbaria as outlined in Appendix A.
1.2 David Long - Produce guidelines on processing tropical collections.
1.3 Brian O'Shea - Contact Roy Perry re. BBSUK acting as agency for herbarium loans.
1.4 Royce Longton - Suggest lowest possible price for 'Guide to Collecting' booklet.
1.4 Brian O'Shea - Contact Roy Perry re. information in Bulletin about 'Guide to Collecting'.
1.7 Brian O'Shea - Send literature list to Ken Adams to see what items of tropical interest are already in the library.
1.8 Brian O'Shea - Ask Philip Lightowlers whether a workshop could be arranged on 21st September.
1.8 Royce Longton - Write to Rob Gradstein to see whether he would attend the Cambridge meeting, if money were available.
3. David Long, Royce Longton - Organise UK end of tropical trip.
3. Martin Wigginton - Circulate the letter he had received from Zomba Herbarium.
3. Royce Longton - Write to Shaun Russell about expedition details.
3. David Long - Report to the BBS April Council Meeting on the tropical expedition and other TBG matters.
3. Brian O'Shea - Write to Martha Newton to get an agenda item for the TBG at the April 1990 Council Meeting.
3. Brian O'Shea - Ask Roy Perry whether note on tropical trip could be got in the February Bulletin.
4. Brian O'Shea - Produce draft aims/objectives.
5. Brian O'Shea - Produce note for July Bulletin about the September TBG meeting.
5. Brian O'Shea - Ask Philip Lightowlers to include TBG in the programme for Saturday 22nd September, as well as to advertise the 21st September workshop.
5. Martin Wigginton - Write to all who have so far shown an interest in the TBG to let them know what is being proposed.
6. Brian O'Shea - Give our suggestions for the Cambridge meeting to Philip Lightowlers.
6 Royce Longton - Write to Shaun Russell about whether he would be attending the Cambridge meeting.
Appendix A
Herbaria in the UK with tropical bryophyte collections
Herbaria and contents in alphabetical order of location, taken from Compendium of Bryology (1985), together with additional information. Each herbarium has either had an individual identified who can be contacted via a standard letter, or a member of the TBG has agreed to contact the herbarium personally. The herbarium collections are assumed to be original material, rather than material acquired by exchange.
Institutional herbaria
Herbarium contact TBG contact Area covered
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
UCNW Bangor Tony Smith ??
BIRA Birmingham ? Java, Madagascar
CGE Cambridge Harold Whitehouse ?
E Edinburgh David Long SW Asia, Australasia, S.America
GL Glasgow Jim Dixon ?
LIV Liverpool John Edmondson West Indies
BM London Alan Harrington Worldwide
MANCH Manchester Brian O'Shea South America
OXF Oxford Royce Longton Worldwide
RNG Reading Royce Longton ?
Private herbaria
Herbarium contact
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stevenson, R. King's Lynn Robin Stevenson ??
Duckett, J.G. London Jeff Duckett Queensland, Malaysia Peninsula
O'Shea, B.J. London Brian O'Shea India (12)
Wigginton, M. Peterborough Martin Wigginton Hawaii (53), Thailand (66), Sabah (268),
Singapore (12), West Malaysia (89)
Fletcher, M.V. Reading Michael Fletcher ??
Townsend, C.C. Twickenham Cliff Townsend Africa and Mascarenes, India, Sri Lanka
Possibles:
Herbarium contact TBG contact
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABD Aberdeen Charles Gimingham
CMM Bradford Mark Seaward
KGY Bradford Mark Seaward
WKD Bradford Mark Seaward
BRIST Bristol Denis Brown
BRISTM Bristol Denis Brown
BBSUK Cardiff Roy Perry
NMW Cardiff Roy Perry
RAMM Exeter Michael Procter
LDS Leeds Mark Seaward
LSR Leicester Martin Wigginton
LINN London Peter Wanstall
SLBI London Brian O'Shea
Gardiner, J.C. London Monica Milnes-Smith
NWH Norwich Martin Wigginton
NOT Nottingham J.O. Rieley
PER Perth David Long
STA St. Andrews David Long
SPN Southampton Rod Stern
(34 in total)
tropical collections identified (15)
probably no tropical collections (19)
TBG06/tbgmins2 Issue 1 - 19.02.90 - BJO
