Graduate Faculty Memberships
Botany; Geography; Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology

Research Interests

Statement
My research has focused on the cultural histories of human-plant interactions with special emphasis on the pan-global, traditional use of psychoactive species. I also study the human impact on native vegetation in tropical island ecosystems, both past and present, with a general interest in the natural history of Remote Oceania. My most important career object has been to contribute to and foster environmental education and preservation of traditional ecological and ethnobotanical knowledge.

• Merlin, M. and W. Raynor. 2005. Kava Cultivation and Integrated Watershed Resource Management on Pohnpei Island. Pacific Science. 59 (2): 241-260.
  
  
• Merlin, M. and G. Kinsela. 2005. Traditional use of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) for medicine in Southern Asia and the Tropical Pacific. Ethnobotany.
  
  
• Merlin, M. 2005. Hawaiian Forest Plants. Pacific Guide Books. Honolulu, Hawai`i, 6th edition.
  
  
• Merlin, M. 2005. Plants and Environments of the Marshall Islands. Produced in cooperation with the Center for Pacific Islands Study, University of Hawai`i at Manoa. http://www.hawaii.edu/cpis/MI/index.htm
  
  
• Merlin, M. 2005. Pacific Ocean Islands, Coastal Ecology. In Schwartz, M. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Coastal Science. Encyclopedia of the Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, pp. 746-754.
  
  
• Delay, J., Merlin, M., Juvik, J., Castillo, M., Perry, L. 2005. Field Guide to Rare and Unusual Plants on the Island of Hawai`i. Lyon Arboretum Special Publication, In cooperation with the United States Fish & Wildlife and the Hawai`i Department of Land and Natural Resources. Hilo. Hawai`i.
  
  
• Merlin, M., Thomson, L. and C. R. Elevitch. 2005. Santalum ellipticum, S. freycinetianum, S. haleakalae, and S. paniculatum (Hawaiian sandalwood). In Elevitch, C. (ed.). Species Profiles for Pacific Island Agroforestry.  http://www.agroforestry.net/tti/Santalum(Haw-sandalwood).pdf
  
  
• Merlin, M. 2002. Traditional Uses of Plants for Fishing in Micronesia. Secratariat for Pacific Community: Women in Fisheries, Information Bulletin. Noumea, New Caledonia. Volume 11, November, pp. 27-31.
  
  
• Lebot, V., Merlin, M., and M. Lindstrom. 1992. Kava: The Pacific Drug. Yale University Press, New Haven and London. 255 pp. [paperback edition, Kava: The Pacific Elixir. 1997. Inner Traditions, Rochester, VT.]
  
  
• Merlin, M. and W. Raynor. 2004. Modern Use and Environmental Impact of the Kava Plant in Remote Oceania. In: M, Steinberg, J.Hobbs and K. Mathewson (eds.), Dangerous Harvest: Drug Plants and the Transformation of Indigenous Landscapes New York: Oxford University Press, Chapter 12, pages 274-293.
  
  
• Merlin, M. and J. Juvik. 1995. Montane Cloud Forest in the Tropical Pacific: Some Aspects of their Floristics, Biogeography, Ecology, and Conservation. In: Tropical Montane Cloud Forests. Hamilton, L., Juvik, J. and F. Scatena (eds). Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 234-253.
  
  
• Merlin, M. 2003. Archaeological Record for Ancient Old World Use of Psychoactive Plants. Economic Botany, 57(3): 295-323.
  
  
• Merlin, M. 2000. A History of Ethnobotany in Remote Oceania. Pacific Science. 54 (3): 275-287.
  
  
• Gartz, J., Allen, J. and M. Merlin. 1994. Ethnomycology, Biochemistry, and Cultivation of Psilocybe samuiensis Guzman, Bandala and Allen, A New Psychoactive Fungi from Koh Samui, Thailand. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 43:73-80.
  
  
• Merlin, M. and J. Allen. 1993. Species Identification and Chemical Analysis of Psychoactive Fungi in the Hawaiian Islands. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 40:21-40.
  
  
• Merlin, M. 1999. Hawaiian Coastal Plants (4th edition). Pacific Guide Books, Honolulu, Hawai`i. 72 pp., 140 color photographs.
  
  
• Merlin, M. 1999. Hawaiian Forest Plants (5th edition). Pacific Guide Books, Honolulu, Hawai`i. 80 pp., 156 color photographs.
  
  
• Merlin, M., Capelle, A., Keene, T., Juvik, J., and J. Maragos. 1997 (2nd ed.) Keinikkan Im Melan Aelon Kein: Plants and Environments of The Marshall Islands. Program on Environment, East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawai`i, 110 pp.
  
  
• Merlin, M., Kugfas, A., Keene, T. and J. Juvik. 1996. Gidii nge Gakiiy nu Wa`ab: Plants, People and Ecology in Yap State. Program on Environment, East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawai`i, 121 pp.
  
  
• Merlin, M. and J. Juvik. 1996. Ira me Neeniier non Chuuk: Plants and their Environments in Chuuk. Program on Environment, East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawai`i, 121 pp.
  
  
• Merlin, M., Taulung, R. and J. Juvik. 1993. Sahk Kap Ac Kain In Acn Kosrae: Plants and Environments of Kosrae. Program on Environment, East-West Center, Hono., Hawai`i, 113 pp.
  
• Merlin, M., Jano, D., Raynor, W., Keene, T., Juvik, J. and B. Sebastian. 1992. Tuhke en Pohnpei: Plants of Pohnpei. Environment and Policy Institute, East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawai`i, 94 pp.
  
  
• Merlin, M. and J. Juvik. 1992. Relationships between Native and Alien Plants on Pacific Islands with and without Significant Human Disturbance and Feral Ungulates. In Alien Plant Invasions in Native Ecosystems of Hawai'i: Management and Research, C.P. Stone, C.W. Smith, and J.T. Tunison eds. University of Hawai`i Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit Press. pp. 597 625.
  
  
• Franklin, J. and M. Merlin. 1992. Species environment patterns of forest vegetation on the uplifted reef limestone of Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke, and Miti'aro, Cook Islands. Journal of Vegetation Science, 3:3 14.
  
  
• Merlin, M. 1991 Woody vegetation on the raised coral limestone of Mangaia, southern Cook Islands. Pacific Science. 45(2):l3l 5l.
  
  
• Merlin, M. 1984. On the Trail of the Ancient Opium Poppy: Natural and Early Cultural History of Papaver somniferum. Associated University Presses, East Brunswick, New Jersey, 324 pp.