Ernst Walter Mayr is one of 20th
Century’s accomplished and pioneering biologists. Mayr was a German-born
American biologist renowned for his work as a taxonomist,
ornithologist, tropical explorer, and historian of science, who also
studied population genetics and evolution. His work on the theory of
evolution paved way for the modernised concepts in genetics and
evolutionary biology which includes the works of Mendel, Darwin, and the
concepts of ‘systematics’ and ‘biological species’. Mayr has been
credited with writing more than 100 papers on avian taxonomy. He
proposed a new definition of species that was widely accepted in
scientific circles and contributed to the discovery of a large number of
previously unknown species. Mayr successfully discovered and named 25
new bird species and 410 sub-species, during his lifetime. Through his
book ‘Systematics and the Origin of Species’, he put forward a
modification to the existing definition of species. A group of
individuals with similar morphological traits were regarded as members
of the same species (as stated by Charles Darwin) but Mayr suggested
that members of a group that interbreed comprise a species. The
information contained within the DNA of each species differs enough from
other species to prevent interbreeding. In his later years, Mayr
focused his efforts in modifying the philosophy of science to include
biology as an essential way in understanding life. Read on to know more
about his life and works.
Childhood & Early Life
- On July 5, 1904, Ernst Mayr was born in Kempten, Germany, to parents Dr. Otto Mayr and Helen Pusinelli.
- Dr. Otto Mayr, by profession, was a law practitioner but he was a keen-naturalist and took hiskids on visits to inculcate in them a love and understanding of their natural surroundings.Major Works
- Mayr presented his ideas on evolution and species in his most significant book ‘Systematics and the Origin of Species’ in 1942. His theory was an integration and progression on the works of Gregor Mendel (genetics) and Charles Darwin (natural selection).
- In his lifetime, Mayr named around 25 new bird species, 410 sub-species, and over 38 new orchid species in New Guinea itself.
Awards & Achievements
- Ernst Mayr received the ‘Darwin-Wallace Medal’ in 1958 because of his work on the definition of species and his contribution in advancing Darwin and Mendel’s theories on evolution.
- In 1969, the President of United States awarded this scientist extraordinaire the prestigious ‘National Medal of Science for Biological Studies’, for his contribution to the field of biology.
- He received the ‘International Prize for Biology’ in 1994 for his work in advancing research on fundamental biology.Personal Life & Legacy
- In 1931, Mayr moved from Germany to the United States, to join the American Museum of Natural History; while he was in America, the Nazis took over Germany. Ernst, who was grateful to be safe in New York, settled permanently in the United States.
- In 1935, Mayr exchanged nuptial vows with Margarete Simon. They had two daughters and their marriage lasted more than 55 years until his wife passed away.
- The erudite scientist breathed his last on February 3, 2005, at the age of 100, in Bedford, Massachusetts. He was diagnosed with cancer few weeks prior to his last days.
- Harvard University established the ‘Ernst Mayr Library of the Museum of Comparative Zoology’, in the honour of this erudite biologist
