Abstract

It is still a fact that most bryologists per area are found in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, who have spent up to 200 years (as in Europe) in the exploration of their bryofloras with the result that these countries have not only floras for identification of the comparably low number of species but some countries have already detailed grid maps of the distribution of all species. On the other hand, there are vast regions in the tropics which are very insufficiently explored. So far, the knowledge of bryophytes in these regions was predominantly provided by scientists from North America, Europe or Japan. Still much work is done by scientists and - during the past decades also increasingly - even by advanced amateurs from these countries. Regretably, these activities are often misunderstood by local biologists in the tropics and especially by the authorities of these states as scientific exploitation, and recently collecting of material for genetic studies as plundering of genetic ressources, which is nonsense but makes research difficult or even impossible in such countries. In this regard, the question raises why there are so few bryologists in tropical countries and even no bryologists in many countries? Usually, the lack of ressources such as laboratories, money, libraries, herbaria etc. is presented as arguments, which does not match the point, since many bryologists in industrial countries suffer from similar restrictions and sometimes have worth working consitions than colleagues in tropical countries, but make nevertheless valuable contributions to tropical bryology. Even amateurs have contributed a lot to tropical bryology in the past. The fewest bryologists work in such famous places as Missouri or New York Botanical Garden. Many of them are from eastern, former communistic countries and never gave up to promote tropical bryology under these conditions. In my opinion, the most crucial point is that students in tropical countries get not in contact with bryophytes, and mainly because of the lack of literature. Nobody can expect that students pick up a subject for their thesis if there is no literature available. This manual is therefore devoted to these students. Possibilities to gain a bryological training in industrial countries and paid by these countries were used only by few students, although available. And if these students do not come to us, we have to go to them (which is even cheaper). This is the reason for the increased number of courses on tropical bryology in the past.