Desiccation-rehydration experiments have been employed over the years to evaluate the desiccation tolerance of bryophytes (Bryophyta, Marchantiophyta and Anthocerotophyta). Researchers have applied a spectrum of protocols to induce desiccation and rehydrate plants after desiccation. Furthermore, a wide variety of techniques have been used to study desiccation-dependent changes in bryophyte molecular, cellular, physiological and structural traits, resulting in a multifaceted assortment of information that is challenging to synthesize. We analyzed 337 desiccation/rehydration studies providing information for 351 species to identify the most frequent methods used, analyze the advancements in desiccation studies over the years and characterize the taxonomic representation of the species assessed. The steady increase in the number of publications has been associated with the number of traits measured as new experimental techniques have been introduced. We observed certain similarities across methodologies, but nevertheless, the degree of convergence among the experimental protocols was surprisingly low. Thus, individual studies were largely unique, complicating comparative generalizations. Although the desiccation responses have been studied in detail in some model species, the overall taxonomic coverage of desiccation responses is poor. Out of 52 bryophyte orders, 40% have not been studied at all, and the data are lacking for multiple remote or difficult to access locations. We conclude that for quantitative interspecific comparisons of desiccation tolerance, rigorous standardization of experimental protocols and measurement techniques is needed. In addition, simultaneous use of an array of experimental techniques is required to gain a mechanistic insight into the relevance of different traits modified in response to desiccation and to assess the timing of different processes from molecular to whole plant level. For prediction of bryophyte community responses to current and future environmental stresses, new studies should also aim to fill gaps in taxonomic, ecological and spatial coverage of bryophytes.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.