May 13, 2009

David Allan, professor and acting dean of the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment, will be honored Sunday (May 17) for outstanding contributions to all fields of benthic science with the "Award of Excellence" from the North American Benthological Society.

The 1,500-member international organization is conducting its 57th annual meeting this year in Grand Rapids, Mich. Benthic science refers collectively to all aquatic organisms that live on, in or near the bottom (substratum) of water bodies, and the bottom environment itself. This includes organisms inhabiting running and standing waters, and also applies to organisms from saltwater and freshwater habitats.

Professor Allan teaches in SNRE's Aquatic Sciences: Research and Management field of study. He received his master of science and doctoral degrees in Zoology from the University of Michigan in 1967 and 1971, respectively, and joined the SNRE faculty in 1990. He has been serving as acting dean since September 2008.

In addition to his benthic science research interests, Professor Allan has taught undergraduate and graduate courses, chaired dissertation committees and master's project teams, received numerous grants and supervised post-doctoral fellows.

"I am truly honored to receive this award from an organization whose mission I so strongly support," said Professor Allan, who has served NABS in a number of capacities, including as its Executive Committee Chair. He is the award's 22nd recipient.

"The North American Benthological Society is extremely pleased to give Dr. Allan this award. It is our Society's highest honor, and Dr. Allan clearly deserves it," said Dr. Nick Aumen, an aquatic ecologist with Everglades National Park in Florida, and current NABS president.

"He has made outstanding contributions to stream ecology and benthic science in general, and thousands of students and researchers have read his book on stream ecology," Dr. Aumen added. "Dr. Allan has been a member of NABS for more than 30 years and has served the society and his profession tirelessly in numerous capacities."

NABS members are scientists mainly interested in freshwater biology. These habitats include rivers, streams, temporary streams, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands and bogs. Benthologists study the life histories, population ecology and systematics of the benthos, as well as the benthic physical and chemical environment.

Professor Allan's teaching interests are in the ecology of fresh waters, including their conservation, management and restoration.He also helps lead interdisciplinary, team-taught courses and a University of Michigan minor titled "Global Environmental Change." He is the author of two widely used textbooks, Stream Ecology (2007, with M.M Castillo) and Streams: Their Ecology & Life (2001, with C.E. Cushing).

His current research investigates the influence of changing land use on river ecosystems, the factors affecting success of stream restoration, and the ecology of freshwater communities. In addition to local and regional work centered in the Midwest, his research has taken place at sites in the Rocky Mountains, Southeast Alaska, Sweden, Israel and Venezuela.

About the North American Benthological Society
The North American Benthological Society is an international scientific organization whose purpose is to promote better understanding of the biotic communities of lake and stream bottoms and their role in aquatic ecosystems, by providing media and disseminating new investigation results, new interpretations and other benthological information to aquatic biologists and to the scientific community at large. The Society was founded as the Midwest Benthological Society by 13 charter members at Havana, Ill., in the spring of 1953. Membership is open to anyone, regardless of residence, who is interested in benthic communities and their role in aquatic ecosystems.
http://www.benthos.org/

About the School of Natural Resources and Environment
The School of Natural Resources and Environment's overarching objective is to contribute to the protection of the Earth's resources and the achievement of a sustainable society. Through research, teaching and outreach, faculty, staff and students are devoted to generating knowledge and developing policies, techniques and skills to help practitioners manage and conserve natural and environmental resources to meet the full range of human needs on a sustainable basis.
http://www.snre.umich.edu