Margaret S. Morley

Margaret S. Morley (née Keer, 1938–2016), was a New Zealand malacologist, illustrator and museum curator. A self-trained researcher, Morley joined the Auckland Shell Club in 1980 and became one of the leading experts in the identification of New Zealand micromollusc species. A prolific researcher, Morley published over 119 papers, most of which featured her own illustrations, and in 2004 published A Photographic Guide to Seashells of New Zealand.

Biography

Margaret Stewart Keer^[1] was born in 1938.^[2] Morley studied physiotherapy and trained as an orthopaedic nurse. By chance became interested in marine life while volunteering with Girl Guides, after seeing a mycology display at the Auckland Easter Show. She joined the Auckland Shell Club in the late 1970s, when her children were young.^[3][2][4] In 1992 she became one of founding members of the Auckland Geology Club.^[2] Morley was a self-taught researcher, first publishing research papers in 1980.^[2] In 1993, Morley was made an Honorary Research Associate of Auckland Museum,^[2] volunteering as a research associate for over 30 years.^[5] Over this time, Morley became one of the leading experts in New Zealand micromollusc identification,^[2] and would spend at least one day per week making shoreline observations.^[6] In 1995, Morley donated a large number algae specimens for the herbarium at Auckland Museum.^[7]

In 2004, Morley published the book A Photographic Guide to Seashells of New Zealand.^[2] In 2006, Morley published the first study of New Zealand ostracod distribution ever undertaken.^[6]

In 2014, Morley became an Associate Emeritus of Auckland War Memorial Museum, due to her work in advancing the museum's marine collections, developing the museum's exhibitions and delivering public programmes.^[8][9]

Morley died on 12 September 2016.^[1] Of the 119 research papers Morley wrote, most included her own illustrations.^[2] She published works on marine molluscs, marine biology, geology and nudibranchs,^[10] and worked on research showing how introduced south-east Asian bivalve species had begun to dominate intertidal life in New Zealand.^[6] In July 2016 prior to her death, Morley donated her personal shell collection to the Auckland Museum, containing approximately 7,000 specimens.^[4]

Personal live

Morley lived in Sunnyhills near Pakuranga, Auckland,^[11][12] close to the Tāmaki River.^[2] She was a committee member of the Tamaki Estuary Protection Society, the former director of the New Zealand College of Massage, and a commissioner for Girl Guides New Zealand.^[2]

Selected works

• Morley, Margaret S; Hayward, Bruce W; Stephenson, A Brett; Smith, Nancy; Riley, Jenny L (1997). "Molluscs, crustacea and echinoderms from Kawhia, west coast, North Island". Tane. 36: 157–180.
• Morley, Margaret S.; Hayward, Bruce W. (1999). "Inner Shelf Mollusca of the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, and Their Depth Distribution". Records of the Auckland Museum. 36: 119–140. ISSN 1174-9202. JSTOR 42905840. Wikidata Q58623318.
• Hayward, Bruce W; Morley, Margaret S; Stephenson, A Brett; Blom, Wilma M; Grenfell, Hugh R; Prasad, Ramola; Rogan, Doug; Thompson, Fiona; Cheetham, Julianne; Webb, Maggie (1999). "Intertidal and subtidal biota and habitats of the central Waitemata Harbour". Auckland Regional Council Technical Publication. 127: 40.
• Hayward, Bruce W.; Morley, Margaret S.; Hayward, Jessica J.; Stephenson, A. Brett; Blom, Wilma M.; Hayward, Kathryn A.; Grenfell, Hugh R. (1999). "Monitoring Studies of the Benthic Ecology of Waitemata Harbour, New Zealand". Records of the Auckland Museum. 36: 95–117. ISSN 1174-9202. JSTOR 42905839. Wikidata Q58623317.
• Morley, Margaret S; Hayward, Bruce W; White, Arthur (2001). "Changes to the intertidal biota 1950's-2000 at Howick Beach, Auckland". Poirieria. 27: 4–19.
• Margaret Morley (2004). A Photographic Guide to Seashells of New Zealand. Illustrator: Iain A Anderson. New Holland Publishers. ISBN 978-1-86966-044-4. OCLC 56646921. Wikidata Q115391200.
• Morley, Margaret S.; Hayward, Bruce W. (2007). "Intertidal and Shallow-water Ostracoda of the Waitemata Harbour, New Zealand". Records of the Auckland Museum. 44: 17–32. ISSN 1174-9202. JSTOR 42905892. Wikidata Q58623357.
• Hayward, Bruce W.; Morley, Margaret S.; Sabaa, Ashwaq T.; Grenfell, Hugh R.; Daymond-King, Rhiannon; Molloy, Catherine; Shane, Phil A.; Augustinus, Paul A. (2008). "Fossil Record of the Post-Glacial Marine Breaching of Auckland's Volcanic Maar Craters". Records of the Auckland Museum. 45: 73–99. ISSN 1174-9202. JSTOR 42905900. Wikidata Q58623363.
• Krug, Patrick J; Morley, Margaret S; Asif, Jamal; Hellyar, Lynette L; Blom, Wilma M (2008). "Molecular confirmation of species status for the rare cephalaspidean Melanochlamys lorrainae (Rudman, 1968), and comparison with its sister species M. cylindrica Cheeseman, 1881". Journal of Molluscan Studies. 74 (3): 267–276. doi:10.1093/mollus/eyn018. ISSN 0260-1230.
• Morley, Margaret S.; Hayward, Bruce W. (2015). "Intertidal records of 'sea slugs' (nudibranchs and allied opisthobranch gastropods) from northern North Island, New Zealand". Records of the Auckland Museum. 50: 33–75. ISSN 1174-9202. JSTOR 90014735. Wikidata Q58628991.

References

This page was last edited on 15 April 2024, at 00:31