Advances in research on bryophyte diversity in China

Background & Aims: Bryophytes, the second largest group of higher plants, are an important component of biodiversity. China is the country with the richest bryophyte diversity. In this review, we aim to summarize the direction of the research on bryophyte diversity since 2017, and appropriately prospect the direction of future research. Progress: Since 2017, Chinese bryologists have described 40 new species and 10 new genera in the world, completed several taxonomic monographs, established a new classification of Marchantiopsida, updated the species catalogue of Chinese bryophytes, and made encouraging progress in the studies of bryophyte phylogenomics, the relationships between bryophyte diversity and environment, and bryophyte diversity conservation, etc. Prospects: Five suggestions for future research on bryophyte diversity in China are proposed, including (1) strengthening the investigation of species diversity of important ecosystems, national parks and key groups; (2) accelerating genome-based bryophyte diversity research; (3) strengthening the research on bryophyte conservation; (4) strengthening the training of bryophyte diversity research talents in Northwest China; and (5) further strengthening international cooperation and building the bryophyte diversity platform of the “the Belt and Road” countries.