Natural ecosystems are the basis for human survival, social stability, and sustainable development. Biodiversity conservation is receiving more and more attention around the world, and it requires a convergence of efforts from policy, industry, research, and public participation. However, taxonomic bias continues to be pervasive. Certain taxa attract most of the public, scientific, and government attention, while those small or uncharismatic organisms are often overlooked, although they play important roles in ecosystems. To alleviate this phenomenon, scientists should take actionAction and give publicity to neglected organisms. Bryophytes are the second largest group in the plant kingdom; their diversity is second only to angiosperms. Bryophytes are an integral and important component of global biodiversity. They perform essential ecological functions, such as pioneering ecological successions, regulating hydrological cycles, reduction of soil erosion, climate regulation, and carbon sink. However, due to their small size and cognitive difficulties, they rarely become the object of public attention, and knowing bryophytes has become one of the weaknesses in biodiversity education. Our team started to introduce bryophytes to the general public systematically in China beginning in 2007. Before our work, there were very few materials or cases for reference. Relying on the Fairy Lake Botanical Garden, in collaboration with the Municipal Affairs Bureau of Macao Special Administrative Region and other institutions, we employed various approaches to introduce bryophytes to the public, including holding public exhibitions, writing science books and papers, delivering public lectures, using new media, mossMoss gardens, guided tours, etc. These activities cover a large population, of which many are students. Especially since 2015, our team has recruited artists, and used paintings and artworks to show the diversity and beauty of bryophytes which are more attractive. Although in this chapter we introduce our work on the natural education of bryophytes, it is believed that the experience accumulated will have reference value for other similar organisms that have been neglected previously.

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Small But Essential: How to Introduce the Public to Easily Overlooked Organisms?

  • Qin Zuo,
  • Li Zhang

摘要

Natural ecosystems are the basis for human survival, social stability, and sustainable development. Biodiversity conservation is receiving more and more attention around the world, and it requires a convergence of efforts from policy, industry, research, and public participation. However, taxonomic bias continues to be pervasive. Certain taxa attract most of the public, scientific, and government attention, while those small or uncharismatic organisms are often overlooked, although they play important roles in ecosystems. To alleviate this phenomenon, scientists should take actionAction and give publicity to neglected organisms. Bryophytes are the second largest group in the plant kingdom; their diversity is second only to angiosperms. Bryophytes are an integral and important component of global biodiversity. They perform essential ecological functions, such as pioneering ecological successions, regulating hydrological cycles, reduction of soil erosion, climate regulation, and carbon sink. However, due to their small size and cognitive difficulties, they rarely become the object of public attention, and knowing bryophytes has become one of the weaknesses in biodiversity education. Our team started to introduce bryophytes to the general public systematically in China beginning in 2007. Before our work, there were very few materials or cases for reference. Relying on the Fairy Lake Botanical Garden, in collaboration with the Municipal Affairs Bureau of Macao Special Administrative Region and other institutions, we employed various approaches to introduce bryophytes to the public, including holding public exhibitions, writing science books and papers, delivering public lectures, using new media, mossMoss gardens, guided tours, etc. These activities cover a large population, of which many are students. Especially since 2015, our team has recruited artists, and used paintings and artworks to show the diversity and beauty of bryophytes which are more attractive. Although in this chapter we introduce our work on the natural education of bryophytes, it is believed that the experience accumulated will have reference value for other similar organisms that have been neglected previously.