Burkhard Büdel

born in 1953, with courses of studies in chemistry and biology at the Universities Darmstadt und Marburg/Lahn, received his doctoral degree from the latter in 1986. Habilitation at the University of Würzburg in 1993. Professorships at the Universities Rostock (1995-1997) and, until retirement (2019), Kaiserslautern. Exploring expeditions to all continents, including both Polar Regions. Major research fields: ecology and und eco-physiology of cyanobacteria, algae, lichens, and bryophytes; systematics and taxonomy of cyanobacteria and lichens.

Thomas Friedl

born in 1960, with course of studies in Biology at the universities of München, Marburg/Lahn, and Bayreuth received his doctoral degree from the latter in 1989, is professor at the Georg-August-University Göttingen since 1999. There he teaches about algae, performs research in the fields of biodiversity, systematics, and culture maintenance of algae and cyanobacteria. He is thescientific director of the renowned culture collection of algae at the University of Göttingen (SAG).

Wolfram Beyschlag

born in 1953, with courses of studies in chemistry and biology at the Universities of Kiel, Erlangen-Nürnberg and Würzburg. Doctoral degree (1985) and Habilitation (1990) at the University of Würzburg. Since 1994 Full professor for Experimental and Systems Ecology at the University of Bielefeld, Germany. Retired in 2019. Several research projects in the Mediterranean, the Western US and the Central American Tropics Main research topics: physiological ecology of higher plants and cryptogams, plant-plant and plant-animal Interactions, ecological modelling. Long term teaching experience on mosses and lichens.

Covers most recent breakthroughs such as nanosensors, piezocatalysis, and the pyro-phototronic effect

Gives a survey of the basics and applications of piezotronics and piezo-phototronics

Is co-authored by the discoverer of the piezotronic effect

Prolog.- Introduction: the new cryptogams.- Endosymbioses: origin and diversity of photosynthetic eukaryotes and their general genetic exchange modes.-Cyanobacteria/Blue-green algae.- Algae from primary endosymbiosis.- Algae from secondary endosymbiosis.- Symbioses.- Bryophytes.- Glossary.