Course Title: Microscope skills workshop – know your reproductive structures. A workshop for intermediate bryologists

Course leader: Professor Jeff Duckett, Emeritus Professor of Botany, Queen Mary University, London.

This workshop will commence with a lecture on Friday evening illustrating the key features of the structures involved in sexual reproduction in bryophytes including antheridial and archegonial development, embryo formation and sporophyte development as well as the diversity of paraphyses and calyptras.

Saturday will include a field trip at Treborth to collect local mosses and liverworts followed by laboratory work where specimens will be dissected to display their reproductive structures.

Sunday will start with a field excursion to collect species not available at Treborth, followed by further laboratory work.

You will learn how to observe and describe the reproductive stages of Sphagnum, Andreaea, acrocarpous and pleurocarpous mosses as well as leafy and thalloid liverworts. This will permit you to accurately record the life stages of mosses and liverworts, allowing you to take part in the Bryophyte Phenology Project with confidence. See https://www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk/projects/phenology-recording/ for more information.

There will be a small charge of £25 to cover some of the costs. You will need to source your own accommodation. There will be a limit of 11 participants on a first come first served basis.

Booking: This workshop is only open to BBS members. Please email Mags Crittenden at education@britishbryologocalsociety.org.uk to register your interest. Your place will only be confirmed once payment has been made.