Courses taught
Role at Open Polytechnic
I am a Senior Lecturer, teaching a range of environment courses including Introduction to New Zealand Ecology, Coastal and Marine Management, Environmental Monitoring and Reporting and the Environmental Studies Research Paper.
Experience
I began my university studies as a mature student at the University of Waikato in 1992, completing a Bachelor of Science majoring in biological sciences in 1995 and then a Master of Science in 1997. While doing my Masters degree (1996-7) I was employed as a tutor in the Biological Sciences Department of Waikato University which entailed helping students in labs and marking assignments.
At the completion of my Masters degree I was employed by Landcare Research. While working there I was supported through a PhD and graduated in Ecology in 2006.
Research interests
I am especially interested in native plants and ecosystems and have worked in native forests, geothermal areas, sand dunes around the North Island, and tussocklands of the Central Plateau. I have had two papers published from my Masters thesis and four from my PhD thesis and hope to publish more from the latter.
While at Landcare Research I wrote more than 50 contract reports, mostly as the lead author and made 12 presentations or posters to national conferences. I authored a chapter and was an editor/compiler of the book ‘Botany of the Waikato’.
Publications
Thesis: Merrett MF 2006. Breeding systems and reproduction of indigenous shrubs in fragmented ecosystems. PhD Thesis, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Merrett MF 1997. Alseuosmia quercifolia A.Cunn.: taxonomy, ecology reproductive biology and propagation. MSc Thesis, The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.
Merrett MF, Robertson AW, Peterson PG 2007. Pollination performance and vulnerability to pollination breakdown of sixteen native shrub species from New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 45: 579–592. http://pdfserve.informaworld.com/245859_731229661_919370347.pdf
Merrett MF 2007. Sex ratios, fruit set and size-class structure in the threatened, gynodioecious sand-dune species Pimelea arenaria (Thymelaeaceae) from New Zealand. Australian Journal of Botany 55: 554–560. http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/BT06017.htm
Merrett MF 2005. Gynodioecy in Teucridium parvifolium (Verbenaceae), a threatened, small-leaved shrub from New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 45: 613–617. http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/media/publications-journals-nzjb-2005-008.pdf
Merrett MF 2005. The breeding system of Raukaua anomalus, a small-leaved shrub from New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 43: 205–210. http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/publications/journals/nzjb/2005/008/
Merrett MF, Clarkson BD, Bathgate JL 2002. Ecology and conservation of Alseuosmia quercifolia (Alseuosmiaceae) from New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 40: 49–63. http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/publications/journals/nzjb/2002/004/
Merrett MF, Clarkson BD 2000. Reinstatement of Alseuosmia quercifolia (Alseuosmiaceae) from New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 38: 153–164. http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/media/publications-journals-nzjb-2000-005.pdf