  A redshift sample of 545 field galaxies is used to examine how the galaxy
merger rate changes with redshift, and how mergers affect the observed
properties of galaxies in close pairs. Close pairs are defined as those with
projected separations less than 20 h^{-1} kpc. At a mean redshift of 0.33, it
is found that 7.1 +/- 1.4 % of galaxies are in close physical pairs, compared
to 4.3 +/- 0.4 % locally. The merger rate is estimated to change with redshift
as (1+z)^{2.8 +/- 0.9}. These results are shown to be consistent with previous
close pair studies, and provide one of the strongest constraints to date on the
redshift dependence of the merger rate.
  As with earlier studies, no significant differences between the mean
properties of paired and isolated galaxies are detected. However, using the
subset of confirmed close physical pairs, those which appear to be undergoing
interactions or mergers (based on their images) are found to have galaxies with
strong emission lines and very blue rest-frame colors. In addition, these pairs
have low relative velocities, increasing the likelihood that the galaxies will
merge. We interpret this as the first clear evidence of merger-induced star
formation occurring in field galaxies at this redshift.
