Mosses, liverworts and hornworts (bryophytes) are modern representatives of the earliest plants that colonized land approximately 500 million years ago; they remain key components of modern ecosystems. Scientists from two biological disciplines approach the study of bryophytes in very different ways, with evolutionary biologists focusing on understanding diversity of all bryophytes and plant genomicists focusing on a single genetic model species within bryophytes to better understand gene function. Cross-disciplinary efforts are challenging yet they lead to a synthetic understanding of the evolution of both genes and species, greatly advancing our understanding of the origins of biodiversity. This award supports student participation in a joint conference on the evolution and genomics of bryophytes, and will engage early career scientists in activities that lay the groundwork for future cross-disciplinary collaborations. Additionally, it will engage teachers of grades 4-12 in a professional development day, and provide them with expertise and tools to advance the understanding of biology in their students.
Mosses are a diverse group of land plants that originated soon after the conquest of land some 450-500 millions ago, and mark the transition from aquatic plants and to vascular and ultimately seed plants, which dominate much of the globe today and are essential to our civilization, as sources of food, medicine, clothing fibers, etc. All land plants share fundamentally the same genome, and while genes have specific functions, these functions may evolve. Understanding how flowering plants acquired their morphological and anatomical complexity may rest in part on understanding the genetic complexity of their ancestors, that is, the mosses. Mosses occur throughout the world, in all but the marine ecosystem, performing crucial ecological or geochemical functions in several habitats, from stabilizing soils and preventing erosion in arid lands to cycling nutrients and water in rain forests or storing carbon in wetlands. Mosses are thus essential to our understanding of the evolution of land plants and of the ecological processes shaping today’s vegetations and climate. Researchers studying the genome of mosses in the context of the evolution of land plants and gene function, and the scientists aiming at resolving the diversity of mosses and their relationships meet annually. Although these areas of research are complementary, researchers working on the genome of select species and those studying morphological diversity across the globe never hold joint international meetings, and hence reciprocal inspiration, generation of new lines of research and stimulating collaborations are limited. A group of four scientists spanning diverse areas of genomic and biodiversity research proposed to organize two consecutive international meetings focusing each on advances in both areas of research, at The New York Botanical Garden. They proposed to facilitate attendance of current graduate students from leading research labs and develop a venue to promote communication within the next generation of scientists focusing on the evolution and diversity of mosses. Sponsors from industry were sought and found to further support this project. The conferences were held between June 16 and 18 (MOSS 2012; genomics conference) and June 20 and 22 (3rd International Symposium on Molecular Systematics of Bryophytes). They were attended by 125 participants representing 25 countries. The scientific program comprised 65 oral communications and 49 poster presentations. Fifty-four students applied for a fellowship to attend the conferences and participate in the pilot project. Thirty-six fellowships were offered to students from 22 countries. Students attended both 3 day meetings and participated in social activities to promote communication, and in scientific activities designed to engage them in broadening their understanding of current research in moss biology. Prior to the conferences, students attended a workshop led by leading scientists in genomics and moss diversity, and through active discussions and hands-on experience acquired a broad introduction to moss genomics and acquired a basic understanding of the methods. For the students knowing mosses from their DNA samples it was the first opportunity to observe live mosses, and match illustrations in their textbooks with structures and organs of live plants. Most importantly students were divided in groups of 4, with 2 students from each of the genomics and systematic fields. Together the students had 5 days to design a novel research project that would integrate knowledge and techniques from both fields. At the end of the second conference, student proposals were assessed by a jury and the awarded symbolic prizes (provided by sponsors). The top proposal elaborated by students from the U.S., the United Kingdom and Belgium entitled "Branching out: revealing the evolutionary history of the sporophyte" sought to understand the evolution of the spore-producing organ, a critical structure in the life history of plants. The award for the most creative and innovative proposal was given to a group of students from the U.S., France, Spain and Switzerland entitled "BryOzone: Diversified composition of the photoprotective LhcSR protein in Andreaea rupestris. Systematic perspectives and implications with UV radiation patterns and depletion of the ozone layer" because it combined aspect of moss genomics, evolution of life on land and current climate change. A second objective of this project was to promote awareness of mosses among precollege biology and science teachers. An opportunity for professional development was created whereby 17 educators learned about the diversity of mosses, including in urban areas, and developed an appreciation for the potential of mosses as tools to highlight concepts in plant biology. Participants were given a moss culture, instructions on how to grow mosses in their classroom, and a brochure on the diversity of the miniature forests (of bryophytes and lichens) in New England. Overall, these events were a success, with students asking upon departure whether such joint ventures would be organized again next year, and with some educators asking for scientists to come to their school and talk about mosses.
