David S. Barrington

Professor Emeritus

Headshot Dave Barrington
Alma mater(s)
  • Ph.D. Harvard

Areas of expertise

  • plant systematics and evolution
  • genus Polystichum

BIO

Dr. Barrington studies the diversity and evolution of spore-dispersed plants, especially ferns and clubmosses. He is fascinated by the biogeography and diversification rates of these plants and the ecological and geological variables that determine these patterns. For many years, he has explored the origins of diversity via hybridization and polyploidy as well as through primary divergence.

Dave  directed the Pringle Herbarium from 1974 to 2023. Prior to coming to the University of Vermont, he studied plant systematics and evolution at Bates College and Harvard University. His current research focuses on the geographic diversity and evolution of ferns in tropical America and Asia.

Bio

Dr. Barrington studies the diversity and evolution of spore-dispersed plants, especially ferns and clubmosses. He is fascinated by the biogeography and diversification rates of these plants and the ecological and geological variables that determine these patterns. For many years, he has explored the origins of diversity via hybridization and polyploidy as well as through primary divergence.

Dave  directed the Pringle Herbarium from 1974 to 2023. Prior to coming to the University of Vermont, he studied plant systematics and evolution at Bates College and Harvard University. His current research focuses on the geographic diversity and evolution of ferns in tropical America and Asia.

Publications

  • Testo, W., E. Sessa, and D. Barrington. The rise of the Andes promoted rapid diversification in Neotropical Phlegmariurus (Lycopodiaceae). New Phytologist. Accepted for publication.
  • Patel, N.R., C.X. Li, L. B. Zhang, and D. Barrington. 2018. Biodiversity and apomixis: insights from the East-Asian holly ferns in Polystichum section Xiphopolystichum. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 127: 345–355.
  • Testo, W., A. Field, and D. Barrington. 2018. Overcoming among-lineage rate heterogeneity to infer the divergence times and biogeography of the clubmoss family Lycopodiaceae. Journal of Biogeography 2018: 1–13.