Introduction to Bryophytes

Bryophytes were a pivotal step in land plant evolution, and their significance in the regulation of ecosystems and the conservation of biodiversity is becoming increasingly acknowledged. This introductory textbook assumes no prior knowledge of bryophyte biology, making it ideal for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, as well as amateur botanists. The authors expertly summarise the diversity of bryophytes and outline recent advances in our understanding of their evolutionary history, their ecological roles and preferences, their distribution patterns and conservation needs. The text is highly illustrated throughout, with boxed summaries of topics of current relevance in bryophyte biology, and a glossary of technical terms.

• Boxed essays summarise topics of current relevance in bryophyte biology
• Gives a modern perspective on bryophyte systematics with chapters on conservation, pollution, and evolution
• Provides a bridge to the more advanced treatment given in Goffinet and Shaw's Bryophyte Biology (2nd edition, 2008, Cambridge University Press)