John Engel studies the Hepaticae (liverworts) of the south temperate and subantarctic regions. His focus is on producing detailed monographic revisions of key genera and on using hepatics as tools to investigate southern hemisphere biogeography. He is currently working on a multivolume treatment of the hepatics of New Zealand. Gary Merrill's research interests are the systematics and geography of mosses, particularly Polytrichaceae. In addition, he is surveying the bryophytes of the Chicago region, studying the potential of these organisms as indicators of habitat quality, and the impact of various management procedures on bryophytes. This project also involves the documentation of changes in the distribution and diversity of bryophytes over the past century, as part of the Chicago Wilderness initiative. Matt von Konrat is the Collections Manager for bryophytes and pteridophytes. His research focus is on the systematics of pteridophytes and bryophytes, particularly hepatics. He is interested in the investigation of these plants from a biogeographical level though to an organismal and molecular level, and using a variety of techniques and approaches to help elucidate species and evolutionary relationships. This includes an active interest in aspects of plant ecology, reproductive biology, morphology, ultrastructure, and molecular biology. He is also taking an active interest in the use of alternative forms of media for dissemination of botanical knowledge and the use of interactive keys on the web. Other Botany Department Research: Economic Botany | Flowering Plants | Fungi/Lichens | Mosses/Liverworts