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Published: March 3, 2011

The Early Land Plants Today project (ELPT)

Matthew Von Konrat, Head of Botanical Collections; McCarter Collections Manager, Bryophytes and Pteridophytes, Gantz Family Collections Center

There are three fundamental components to the project: 1) a worldwide checklist of liverworts and hornworts; 2) regional or local distribution checklists; and 3) the synthesis of the taxonomy, systematics, and nomenclature on a taxonomic group-by-group basis. The latter, in particular, represents the first endeavor of its kind and will appear as a series of forthcoming papers in Phytotaxa, where ELPT collaborates closely with taxonomic specialists validating and verifying nomenclatural and type data, authorities, original citations, as well as auxiliary data associated with specific taxonomic groups. A brief account of the compilation of regional or local checklists is also provided; these also will be published periodically.

The project in its current form has received funding from the Global Biological Information Facility (GBIF) and is receiving supplementary funds from the National Science Foundation (NSF) with related synergistic activities. The project recently received sponsorship from the Encyclopedia of Life (see http://www.eol.org) for a large international meeting of 31 liverwort taxonomists worldwide to further consolidate the projects aims and objectives. This was held at the Field Museum, Chicago, U.S.A., between 26 and 29 May, 2009. The meeting was significant as it 1) secured the liverwort communities commitment to produce a worldwide checklist by the end of 2010; 2) received the support of specialists to act as custodians with the objective of producing a taxonomic and nomenclatural synthesis of various taxonomic groups—the concept outlined in this paper; and 3) underscored the desire of the liverwort community to have open access to the powerful data sets created by Söderströmand Hagborg.

Matthew Von Konrat
Head of Botanical Collections; McCarter Collections Manager, Bryophytes and Pteridophytes

Kia ora! Greetings! I am originally from Aotearoa-New Zealand and relocated to Chicago in 2001. My field of interest has focused on the systematics of pteridophytes and bryophytes, particularly liverworts. I am stimulated by the variety of disciplines that plant systematics has to offer including aspects of plant ecology & biogeography, conservation, reproductive biology, morphology, ultrastructure, and the use of chemical markers. I am also particularly interested in theoretical aspects relating to species concepts and biogeography and how our understanding of these relate to conservation biology and conservation management decisions. I have deep interests in collection management and digitization (databasing and digital imaging). I also have strong interests in citizen science, education outreach and the dissemination of knowledge using various forms of multimedia.- Geographical Focus: Australasia, Oceania, southern South America; Worldwide in selected taxonomic groups.

  • Plant systematics (especially liverworts), incl. biogeography, morphology, chemosystematics, cytogenetics & ecology.
  • Conservation of rare and threatened plants.
  • The use of electronic and computer technology to aid in identification and dissemination of knowledge.
  • Collection management & Digital imaging.
  • Community participation, citizen science & education outreach.

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