Associate Emeritus of Auckland War Memorial Museum
Margaret S. Morley (née Keer, 1938–2016), was a New Zealandmalacologist, 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]
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.
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.
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.
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. ISSN0260-1230.
^ abcHayward, Bruce W (2016). "Margaret S. Morley (1938–2016)". Geoscience Society of New Zealand Newsletter. 20: 49–51.
^"Auckland Institute and Museum Herbarium (AK) Report for 1 July 1994 to 30 June 1995". New Zealand Botanical Society Newsletter. 42: 14–15. December 1995.
