Bryophytes represent nearly half a billion years of adaptation to life on land, and shape the ecology of terrestrial systems from the poles to equatorial regions. This incredibly diverse group of plants influences the ecology of ecosystems, but is often overlooked and understudied. We have organized a diverse group of bryophyte focused studies to showcase these impacts. The goal for this Inspire session is to highlight the ecosystem level impacts of bryophytes in arctic/boreal, dryland, and Sphagnum dominated ecosystems. Aligning with the conference theme of “a change is gonna come”, topics include bryophyte impacts related to climate change, biogeochemistry, biodiversity, restoration, and functional ecology. Following the talks, we will host an open panel with all speakers to provide opportunities for questions and conversation with the audience. Curious about the importance of bryophytes in the ecosystem you study? Join us!