Early Career Researchers advocate for raising the profile of bryophyte ecological research

Abstract

Bryophyte research is severely underrepresented compared to vascular plant research, even though we know that bryophytes are crucial components of ecosystems and contribute significantly to ecosystem functions and processes, and thus to ecosystem services. This underrepresentation creates many hurdles and barriers that Early Career Researchers (ECRs) must first overcome to establish in this field, which significantly hinders research now and in the future. Therefore, this work deals with the future of bryophyte research, and bryophyte ecology in particular, which is reflected in the perspectives of ECRs in this scientific field. By listing the many barriers that bryophyte researchers and especially ECRs face, including underrepresentation, funding and publishing, but also possible solutions, we want to raise awareness for and advocate to raise the profile of bryophyte research. We here identify multiple barriers that bryophyte-focused ECRs face and what is needed to overcome them. We address different structural and institutional levels, ranging from early education in schools to academia, funding and publishing. Raising the profile of bryophyte research works on many different levels simultaneously. To improve the prospects of bryophytes and thus increase scientific interest in, and ultimately understanding of, this important group of plants, we need to raise awareness now.