Samuel B. Merrill

Education:

Doctor of Philosophy in Wildlife Conservation, University of Minnesota, March 2002

Master of Science in Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, May 1994

Bachelor of Arts in Zoology, University of Maine, May 1991. Summa Cum Laude

Professional Experience:

November 2001 – present

Projects Director for the New England Environmental Finance Center at the Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine. Responsible for development and management of a broad array projects in land use and smart growth policy and implementation.

March 2001 – October 2001

Executive Director of a land trust, the Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association in Alna, Maine. Responsible for providing the leadership, management, and planning required to promote SVCA’s mission of land protection, education, and advocacy.

April 1994 – May 2000

Nongame Specialist for the Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources at Camp Ripley, Minnesota National Guard Training Site (84,800 km2). Responsible for the design, coordination, and written and oral presentation of wildlife research projects, and developing management strategies for timber, native grasses, protected plants, and other resources.

September 1996 – March 2002

Ph.D. Dissertation Research, using Global Positioning Systems collars on gray wolves at Camp Ripley. Primary research questions involved 1.) capabilities of the new GPS technology, 2.) basic natural history of the gray wolf, 3.) relationships between wolves and military activities, and 4.) wolf dispersal and social structure in a fragmented, agricultural landscape.

September 1991 - May 1994

M.S. Thesis research, evaluating management of residual timber in northern Minnesota aspen clearcuts, from the perspective of forest bird diversity.

Summer 1990

Research Technician with USFWS, Malheur Nat. Wildlife Refuge, Oregon. Located and monitored Willow Flycatcher nests; conducted bird surveys, mist netting, and banding.

October 1989 - May 1991

Research Technician on genetics studies at the University of Maine. Conducted gel electrophoresis and polymerase chain reactions for studies of herring subpopulations; observed territoriality and nest construction of cichlid fish from Lake Malawi in Africa.

Summer 1987

Research intern and naturalist with the Atlantic Cetacean Research Center in Gloucester, MA; helped develop a photographic catalogue of finback whales in the North Atlantic.

Teaching Experience:

Fall 1997

Instructor, University of Minnesota. Instructed Biological Conservation: An Ecosystem Approach. The course had one graduate Teaching Assistant and 80 students, mostly seniors in the major. Work entailed writing and delivering up to 3 lectures per week, giving in- and out-of-class written assignments, and writing exams. Class time was split between lecture, structured discussion, and directed writing exercises.

Journal Publications:

Merrill, S. B. 2000. Road densities and Gray Wolf, Canis lupus, habitat suitability: an exception. Canadian Field-Naturalist 114: 312 – 313.

Merrill, S. B., and L. D. Mech. 2000. Details of extensive movements by Minnesota wolves (Canis lupus). American Midland Naturalist 144:428 – 433.

Merrill, S. B., G. Oehlert, and F. J. Cuthbert. 2000. Blocking increases efficiency of data collection in field ornithology study. The Auk 117:232 – 235.

Merrill, S. B., F. J. Cuthbert, and G. Oehlert. 1998. An evaluation of residual patches and their contribution to forest bird diversity on northern Minnesota aspen clearcuts. Conservation Biology 12:190 – 199.

Merrill, S. B., L. G. Adams, M. E. Nelson, and L. D. Mech. 1998. Testing releasable GPS radiocollars on wolves and white-tailed deer. Wildlife Society Bulletin 26:830 – 835.

Merrill, S. B. 1994. The birds of Camp Ripley. The Loon 66:117 – 126.

Mech, L. D., and S. B. Merrill. 1998. Daily departure and return patterns of wolves, Canis lupus, from a den at 80° N latitude. Canadian Journal of Zoology 112:515 – 517.

Thiel, R., S. B. Merrill, and L. D. Mech. 1998. Tolerance by denning wolves, Canis lupus, to human disturbance. American Midland Naturalist 112:340 – 342.

Merrill, S. B., and C. E. Erickson. Submitted to Wildlife Society Bulletin. Wolf movements and military activities.

Merrill, S. B., and L. D. Mech. Submitted to the Journal of Wildlife Management. Effects of signal obstruction bias on home range estimates that use GPS telemetry.

Merrill, S. B., and L. D. Mech. In prep. An analysis of wolf activity patterns using GPS telemetry.

Other Publications:

Merrill, S. B. 2002. An evaluation of the use of Global Positioning System telemetry for studying wolf biology. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Minnesota, St. Paul. 135 pages.

Merrill, S. B. 2000. Protected Species Management Plan for Camp Ripley, Army National Guard Training Site, Little Falls, Minnesota. MN Dept. of Natural Resources Camp Ripley Series Rep. No. 10. 69 pages.

Merrill, S. B. 2000. A comparison of VHF, GPS, and satellite telemetry for studies in wolf biology. Wolf Print Magazine 6:14 – 17.

Merrill, S. B. 2000. Animal Surveys at Camp Ripley, Minnesota Army National Guard Training Site 1999 Annual Report. MN Dept. of Natural Resources Camp Ripley Series Rep. No. 9. 145 pages.

Merrill, S. B. 1999. GPS collars: The next wave in wolf tracking. International Wolf 9:3 – 5.

Merrill, S. B. 1999. Animal Surveys at Camp Ripley, Minnesota Army National Guard Training Site 1998 Annual Report. MN Dept. of Natural Resources Camp Ripley Series Rep. No. 8. 70 pages.

Merrill, S. B. 1997. Animal Surveys at Camp Ripley, Minnesota Army National Guard Training Site 1996 Annual Report. MN Dept. of Natural Resources Camp Ripley Series Rep. No. 6. 62 pages.

Merrill, S. B. 1996. Animal Surveys at Camp Ripley, Minnesota Army National Guard Training Site 1995 Annual Report. MN Dept. of Natural Resources Camp Ripley Series Rep. No. 5. 27 pages.

Merrill, S. B. 1996. The wolves of Camp Ripley. International Wolf 6: 7 – 9.

Merrill, S. B. 1995. Animal Surveys at Camp Ripley, Minnesota Army National Guard Training Site 1994 Annual Report. MN Dept. of Natural Resources Camp Ripley Series Rep. No. 4. 98 pages.

Merrill, S. B. 1994. Reserve timber management in northern Minnesota aspen clearcuts; an evaluation based on forest bird diversity. M.S. Thesis, University of Minnesota. 70 pages.

Brown, W., and S. B. Merrill. 1998. Animal Surveys at Camp Ripley, Minnesota Army National Guard Training Site 1997 Annual Report. MN Dept. of Natural Resources Camp Ripley Series Rep. No. 7. 16 pages.

Military honor from the Minnesota National Guard: Commander’s Medal For Distinguished Public Service, Spring 2000

Dissertation Fellowship Award from the University of Minnesota, Spring 2000

Outstanding Service Award, MN Department of Military Affairs, Summer 1999

Outstanding Achievement in Natural Resources Conservation on a Large Installation; won by the Camp Ripley Environmental Office for the National Guard, Army, and Department of Defense, Spring 1999

Outstanding Achievement Award, MN Department of Natural Resources, Fall 1997

Phi Beta Kappa honorary society for academic excellence; Spring 1991

Phi Kappa Phi honorary society for academic excellence; Spring 1991

University of Maine Academic Achievement Award; 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991

Marine Science Scholarship Award for academic excellence; Winter 1989