What is the International Association of Bryologists (IAB) website?

Updated

bryology.org is the official website of the International Association of Bryologists (IAB), a global society for anyone interested in the biology of bryophytes—mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. Its stated mission is to promote international cooperation and communication among all who are interested in bryophyte biology, "whether amateur or professional." The site is therefore useful both to working bryologists who want news, publications, and congress details, and to newcomers looking for a starting point to learn about bryophytes.

What the site offers

The homepage is organized around a few clear functions:

  • News from IAB — dated announcements about the association, including congress updates, virtual meetings, and new newsletter issues.
  • Membership — an invitation to join the community, with the association describing its main activities as meetings in various countries every two years, publications, grants and prizes, and various bryology-related projects.
  • Discover Bryophytes and Bryology — a curated set of external links for learning about bryophytes at different levels of detail.
  • Latest publications — entry points to the association's journal and newsletter.
  • Bryophyte of the Day — a recurring image feature (credited to Des Callaghan) showing a featured species, such as Riccardia prehensilis.

Publications

IAB produces two main publications, both linked from the site:

Publication What it is
Bryophyte Diversity and Evolution A peer-reviewed international journal
The Bryological Times A membership newsletter

The site notes that the June 2026 issue of The Bryological Times (Vol. 163) was published with 13 articles.

Learning resources linked from the site

Rather than hosting all educational material itself, the site points visitors to external resources covering bryophyte biology and ecology, including:

  • A comprehensive presentation of bryophyte biology and ecology from the Australian National Herbarium and Australian Botanic Garden
  • "Learning about bryophytes" from the British Bryological Society (BBS)
  • Presentations of mosses, liverworts, and hornworts from the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network
  • A very comprehensive e-book covering all aspects of bryology and bryophytes by J. Glime

The site also states that a new page with links to bryological societies around the world will be available soon.

Events

The site's news section lists upcoming gatherings, including a virtual IAB meeting on 29 October 2026 (members are invited to participate) and the 27th IAB Congress, scheduled for 26–30 July 2027 in Bogotá, Colombia, under the theme "High-Mountain Bryophytes."

Who should use it

  • Newcomers and students — start with the "Discover Bryophytes and Bryology" links, which range from introductory pages to a full e-book.
  • Researchers and professionals — use the journal link, congress announcements, and grant/prize information.
  • Amateur naturalists — the news, "Bryophyte of the Day" feature, and newsletter provide an accessible way to follow the field.

If your goal is to learn what bryophytes are, the external learning links are the fastest route. If your goal is to connect with the international community, join the association or check the news section for the next congress or virtual meeting.