Department of Biological Sciences

Please contact Biological Sciences office, fill in an info-request form or approach our staff members if you require more information regarding the current teaching and research programmes, or individual staff and student's research projects.

Research Interests:

Biosystematics, population and conservation genetics, and biogeography of endemic Pacific plants, in particular Pittosporum; molecular systematics of Antarctic mosses.

Research and postgraduate study are encouraged in the Department of Biological Sciences. All research students acquire basic research skills and a knowledge of techniques, as well as training in specialist disciplines.

Click here to go to the Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research (CBER).

Dr Gemmill's teaching interests lie primarily in the field of plant evolutionary biology, with specific interests in plant molecular systematics and conservation genetics of Pacific plants.

BIOL210 - Introduction to Genetics

This paper deals with genetics in the widest sense from the molecular and cellular to the applied and evolutionary.  Both prokaryote and eukaryote genetics are discussed with respect to DNA replication, gene expression and control, and the role of mutations at both the DNA and chromosomal levels. 

Applications of molecular genetics such as cloning, DNA sequencing, genetic engineering, DNA fingerprinting and antibody technologies are introduced.  An in depth treatment of Mendelian genetics and an introduction to quantitative genetics complete the paper.

The paper is seen as being of major importance to students of biology, irrespective of whether their interests are in metabolic and cellular processes, plant/animal genetic improvement, or ecological and evolutionary.

BIOL223 - Introduction to Plant Biology [click on the link to see what the students have been up to]

An introduction to the structure and adaptation of plants, diversity, principles of identification and classification and molecular information.  A general introduction to plants and the foundation paper for Level 3 and higher plant papers.

BIOL226 - Flora of Aotearoa/New Zealand

A paper for students interested in New Zealand's native and naturalised flora, with emphasis on identification of plants and plant systemics.  A two day field trip will be held as part of this paper.

At the end of this paper students will be familiar with all the major elements of the New Zealand flora, and will be able to work with any modern Flora to key out and identify plants from the scientific literature.  The paper will normally be taught entirely over two weeks in February. [normally held every alternate year - 'odd' years].

Flora of New Zealand - February 6th- 20th 2009 - sign up now!!

(Pre-enrolment form)

BIOL227 - Flora of the Pacific

A paper for students interested and interested people in the flora of the Pacific, with an emphasis on identification of plants, plant systematics and biogeography.  A field trip to study a selected Pacific flora will normally be held as part of this paper.

At the end of this paper students will be familiar with all the major elements of the relevant country's flora, and will be able to work with any modern Flora to key out and identify plants from the scientific literature.  The dates for this paper will normally be taught entirely over two weeks in February.  [normally held every alternate year - 'even' years].

BIOL310 - Advanced Genetics [click on the link to see what the students have been up to]

This paper follows on from BIOL210 and deals in greater detail with both the molecular and whole organism aspects of genetics.  Throughout the paper there will be an emphasis on the application of genetic knowledge; on the one hand in the direction of genetic engineering and genetic analysis and on the other hand in the study of population genetics. 

The paper is recommended to all biologists; it complements papers both in the evolutionary areas of biology as well as those in the metabolic and biotechnological.

This course examines aspects of the adaptation of plants to their environment and the structure and functioning of plant communities.  Early sessions cover ecological genetics including conservation genetics. Demography and regeneration dynamics of plant populations are followed by consideration of patterns and processes of change (succession) and vegetation assessments techniques.  Plant invasions (weed biology) and specialist techniques of spatial analysis and modelling are then considered and the final sessions focus on restoration ecology.

Current graduate students include:

Cindy Cadman-Satake.  Title

Susan Caradus. Identification of hybridisation in Pittosporum using chloroplast DNA, allozymes and cross-pollination experiments.

Sarah Kelly . A phylogeographic investigation of the introduction and dispersal of the invasive species Didymosphenia geminata in New Zealand.

Graeme Weavers. Population dynamics and genetic diversity of Solanum aviculare(poroporo) in Lake Tarawera Scenic Reserve and the wider Bay of Plenty in relation to restoration.

For information on past and present graduate students click here

Current PhD students include:

Liz Overdyke. Thresholds for sustainable regeneration in urban restoration plantings.

Joel Jurgens. Fungal biodiversity of extreme environments and their biochemical strategies of lignocelluloseis utilization.

For information on past and present PhD students click here

Posters that were submitted to the IBC Conference in Vienna July 2005

click on the links below to see the pdf of each poster

Assessing genetic variability of NZ seagrass (Zostera muelieri, Zosteraceae) at multiple spatial scales.

Biogeography on endemic NZ Isoētes.

Photosynthetic responses to mangrove Avicennia marina subsp australasica to a NZ winter.

Flora of Aotearoa - the Angiosperm Phylogeny Tree.

Current Research Programmes

Phylogeography of New Zealand and subantarctic house mice, with C.M. King

• Origin and hybridization of New Zealand house mice (and Dr. J. Searle, York University)

• Phylogeography of mice on New Zealand’s subantarctic islands (and Dr M. Stevens, Massey)

Recent Publications in Plant Systematics and Evolution:

Gemmill, Chrissen.  2006.  Evolution Solution.  Software programme available at: http://bio.waikato.ac.nz/staff/gemmill

Hofstra, D.E., Gemmill, CEC., and de Winton, MD.  2006.  Preliminary genetic assessment of New Zealand Isoëtes and Nitella, using DNA sequencing and RAPDs.  Science for Conservation 266, pp5-30.

Clarkson, B., & Gemmill, C. 2002. Chapter 1, Introduction. In Botany of the Waikato, Waikato Botanical Society, Inc.

Gemmill, C.E.C., Allan, G., Wagner, W.L, & Zimmer, E.A. (2002). Evolution of insular pacific Pittosporum (Pittosporaceae): Origin of the Hawaiian radiation. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 22, 31-42

Holzapfel, S., Faville, M., & Gemmill, C.E.C. 2002. Genetic variation of the endangered holoparasite Dactylanthus taylorii (Balanophoraceae) in New Zealand. Journal of Biogeography, 29, 663-676.

Ranker, T.A., Gemmill, C.E.G., & Trapp, P.G. 2000. Microevolutionary patterns and processes of the native Hawaiian colonizing fern Odontosoria chinensis (Lindsaeaceae). Evolution, 54, 828-839.

Champion, P.D., Hofstra, D.E., Auger, M., & C.E.C. Gemmill. 2001. Sebaea ovata – estimation of population size, comparison with Australian plants and recommendations for management. NIWA Client report (DoC 01225) for Department of Conservation.

Faville, M.J., Holzapfel, A.S., & Gemmill, C.E.C. 2000. Genetic diversity of Dactylanthus taylorii in New Zealand. Science and Research Internal Report 173. Department of Conservation, Wellington.

Click here for complete list of Publications - [as compiled by the Department of Biological Sciences Department].
 

Recent honours and distinctions

Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Fund, Ecology and Evolution Panel Member 2004-2007

Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Studies Program

1997-1999 $69,000. Phylogenetic relationships and breeding system evolution of insular Pacific Pittosporum (Pittosporaceae). Co-PI with E. A. Zimmer and W. L. Wagner.

Smithsonian Institution Postdoctoral Fellowship

1996 $27,500. Evolutionary relationships and biogeography of Hawaiian Pittosporum (Pittosporaceae) as estimated by morphological and molecular studies.

International Palm Society Endowment Fund Grant

1996 $1,200. Conservation genetics and systematics of the native Hawaiian palm genus Pritchardia (Arecaceae) utilizing microsatellite DNA markers and morphological characters.

National Science Foundation Dissertation Research Improvement Grant

1994 $10,000. Population genetics, systematics, and evolutionary relationships of the native Hawaiian palm genus Pritchardia.

Membership of professional and learned societies

• New Zealand Plant Species Radiation Group - http://awcmee.massey.ac.nz/NZPRN/

• Systematics Association of New Zealand