Department of Environmental & Natural Resource Sciences
Alison Purcell

Dr. Alison Purcell

Assistant Professor, Environmental Science Program Coordinator

Contact Information:
Office: Natural Resources (NR) Building, Rm. 213
Phone: (707) 826-3438
E-mail: apurcell@humboldt.edu

Personal Statement:

I believe in a learning atmosphere that allows students to interact with the natural environment and learn structural and functional processes first-hand. I try to get my students outside as often as possible so they can fully experience the topic. I am currently teaching courses in environmental science, environmental problem solving and ecological restoration. These courses provide wonderful avenues for exploring the environment and figuring out ways to address anthropogenic impacts and disturbances.

My research interests are in restoring damaged ecosystems and the ecology of freshwater environments. Past research projects have explored how biological stream communities (primarily benthic macroinvertebrates) respond to increased urbanization within the watershed. One project compared urban gradients and aquatic biological indicators of urbanization in three climatic regions of the United States: San Jose, CA (west coast); Baltimore, MD (Mid-Atlantic); and Cleveland, OH (Midwest). The biological indicators of urbanization developed for these three regions were intended to help water agencies prioritize restoration and conservation efforts in urban watersheds. My research has also involved several post-project assessments of urban stream restoration projects in the San Francisco Bay Area in order to evaluate their success. These assessments included biological, habitat, and sociological assessments of several urban stream restoration projects to determine the condition of each site over time.

I am thrilled to be teaching and conducting research in the fascinating and diverse ecological environment of the North Coast. Environmental issues are definitely at the forefront of people’s minds in this area and I hope to engage with the local community to help inform future conservation and restoration efforts.

Specialty Areas:

Ecological Restoration, Aquatic Ecology

Education/degrees:

  • Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley (Environmental Science, Policy, and Management/Aquatic Ecology)
  • B.S. University of Oregon, Eugene (Environmental Science)

Courses Taught:

  • ENVS 110 – Introduction to Environmental Science
  • ENVS 230 – Environmental Problem Solving
  • ENVS 350 – Principles in Ecological Restoration
  • ENVS 450 – Applied Ecological Restoration

Publications:

Mazor, R., A. H. Purcell, and V. H. Resh. In press. Long-term variability in benthic macroinvertebrate           bioassessments: A 20-year study from two northern Californian streams. Environmental           Management.

Chin, A., A. H. Purcell, J. Quan, and V.H. Resh. In press. Assessing geomorphological and           ecological responses in restored step-pool systems. Geological Society of America, Special           Papers Series.

Purcell, A. H., D. W. Bressler, M. J. Paul, M. T. Barbour, E. Rankin, J. L. Carter, and V. H. Resh.           2009. Assessment tools for urban catchments: developing biological indicators using benthic           macroinvertebrates. Journal of American Water Resources Association.           45(2):306-319

Bressler, D. W., M. J. Paul, A. H. Purcell, M. T. Barbour, E. Rankin, and V. H. Resh. 2009.           Assessment tools for urban catchments: developing stressor gradients. Journal of American           Water Resources Association. 45(2):291-305.

Paul, M. J., D. W. Bressler, A. H. Purcell, M. T. Barbour, E. Rankin, and V. H. Resh. 2009.           Assessment tools for urban catchments: defining observable biological potential. Journal of           American Water Resources Association. 45(2):320-330.

Chin, A., S. Anerson, A. Collison, E. Ellis-Sugai, J.P. Haltiner, J.B. Hogervorst, G.M. Kondolf, L.S.           O’Hirok, A.H. Purcell, A.L. Riley, and E. Wohl. 2008. Linking theory and practice for restoration           of step-pool streams. Environmental Management, 43:645-661.

Purcell, A. H., A. Hoffmann, and V. H. Resh. 2008. Life history of a dipteran predator (Scathophagidae:           Acanthocnema) of insect egg masses in a northern California stream. Freshwater Biology,           53:2426-2437.

Purcell, A. H., J. D. Corbin, and K. E. Hans. 2007. Urban riparian restoration: an outdoor classroom for           college and high school students collaborating in conservation. Madrõno 54:258-267.

Barbour, M. T., M. J. Paul, D. W. Bressler, A. H. Purcell, V. H. Resh, and E. Rankin. 2007.           Bioassessment: A tool for managing aquatic life uses for urban streams. Water Environment           Research Foundation (WERF) Research Digest #01-WSM-3.

Purcell, A. H., C. Friedrich, and V. H. Resh. 2002. An assessment of a small, urban stream restoration           project in northern California. Restoration Ecology 10:685-694.