Margaret Elizabeth Barr-Bigelow

Margaret Elizabeth Barr Bigelow (1923–2008) was a Canadian mycologist known for her contributions to the Ascomycetes fungi.

Biography

She was born on April 16, 1923, in Elkhorn, Manitoba. She studied at the University of British Columbia, receiving her bachelor's degree in 1950 and her Master's in 1952. She went on to study under Lewis E. Wehmeyer at the University of Michigan, and received her doctorate in 1956 for her work on "The taxonomic position of the genus Mycosphaerella as shown by comparative developmental studies". 1976-1980: Editor in Chief: Mycologia 1979-1980: Vice President, Mycological Society of America 1981-1982: President, Mycological Society of America 1992: Elected Distinguished Mycologist by Mycological Society of America

In addition to the Mycological Society of America, Barr was a member of the American Institute of Biological Societies, International Association of Plant Taxonomists and British Mycological Society. She published more than 150 scientific publications on various Ascomycetes, with the last one described in 2007.

Endowments established by Margaret Barr:

The Howard E. and Margaret E. Barr Bigelow Endowed Fund for the Life Sciences Collection for biological sciences and geosciences journals W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Howard E. Bigelow Mentor Fund Margaret E. Barr Bigelow Mentor Fund for student travel to annual meetings of the MSA

Margaret and her husband collected many fungal specimens, which are now mostly displayed at the New York Botanical Garden. Some of Margaret's collection are also held at the Canada Department of Agriculture in Ottawa and the University of British Columbia.

Publications Barr ME. 1978. The Diaporthales in North America with emphasis on Gnomonia and its segregates. Mycol Mem 7:1–232. 1987. Prodromus to class Loculoascomycetes. Amherst, Massachusetts: Publ by the author. 168 p. 1990a. Melanommatales (Loculoascomycetes). N Am Flor, Ser II 13:1–129. 1990b. Some dictyosporous genera and species of Pleosporales in North America. Mem NY Bot Gard 62: 1–92. 1990c. Prodromus to nonlichenized, pyrenomycetous members of class Hymenoascomycetes. Mycotaxon 39:43–184. Rogerson CT. 1996. The pyrenomycetes described by J.B. Ellis. Mem NY Bot Gard 79:1–137. M, Barr ME, Samuels GJ. 1999. Chaetosphaeriaceae, a new family for Chaetosphaeria and its relatives. Sydowia 51:49–70. Huhndorf SM. 2000. Loculoascomycetes. In: McLaughlin DJ, McLaughlin E, eds. The Mycota, Vol. VII. Springer-Verlag. p 283–305. Marincowitz S, Barr ME. 2007. Rhynchomeliola quercina, a new rostrate ascomycete from oak trees in western Canada. Mycotaxon 101:173–178.

Genera and species of fungi, named after M.E. Barr Barrella Ahn & Shearer, 1995 Barria Z.Q.Yuan, 1994 Barrina A.W.Ramaley, 1997 Barrmaelia Rappaz, 1995 Margaretbarromyces Mindell, Stockey, Beard & Currah, 2007 Mebarria J.Reid & C.Booth, 1989 Bricookea barriae Shoemaker & C.E.Babc., 1989 Gibbera barriae L.Holm & K.Holm, 1980 Hysterium barrianum E.W.A.Boehm, A.N.Mill., Mugambi, Huhndorf & C.L.Schoch, 2009 Leptosphaeria barriae Shoemaker, 1985 Paraphaeosphaeria barriae Checa, 2002 Phaeosphaeria barriae Fallah, J.L.Crane & Shearer, 1998 Plagiostoma barriae Sogonov, 2008 Trichometasphaeria barriae Chleb., 2009 Wettsteinina barriae Shoemaker & C.E.Babc., 1987