Allison Nunes

​​How did you become interested in this field of study?
Growing up in a small rural town in California’s Central Valley, I have always been exposed to and had a passion for the outdoors. My family would also take many vacations to the beach every year. I originally went to school for marine science, but after taking a class, “Plant Communities of California,” I was hooked. I switched my major to environmental science and have been enjoying the field of ecology ever since.

What is the title of the ARI project and what faculty are you working with?
“Assessing the Effects of Drought on the Seedbank in a Sagebrush Steppe Community,” with Dr. Kerry Byrne, an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Science & Management at Humboldt State University.

Briefly describe your project and why it is important to California agriculture or natural resources.
Sagebrush steppes are important rangelands for cattle grazing as well as for biodiversity, providing food and cover to support rich and unique biological communities that are necessary for a healthy and functioning ecosystem. As global warming continues, climates and weather will change, and we would like to know the implications for sagebrush steppes.
The objective of my project is to assess how predicted drought events due to climate change will affect seedbank composition within sagebrush steppe ecosystems. Utilizing existing field sites that are part of a larger drought manipulation experiment, I collected soil cores and brought them back to the campus greenhouse. I used a seedling emergence method to quantify and identify species that germinated. A few specific aspects I will be looking at include the relationship between extreme drought and seed production, differences between aboveground vegetation and belowground (seedbank), differences of seedbank composition between microclimates (e.g., under shaded canopy of sagebrush and adjacent interspaces).

Why are you interested in this project?
I really enjoy studying plants and different ecosystems of California and Oregon. This project intrigued me because it is a new ecosystem I’d never studied before and the objectives of my research are also very applicable to climate change research.

Describe your role in this project.
I am studying the effects of drought on the seedbank, alongside broader research objectives designed to understand how drought will affect forage production, aboveground species composition and soil properties.

What do you hope to learn, or have you learned, through this ARI project?
I am learning all the ins and outs of what it’s like to conduct research independently (with some help from my amazing adviser!). For example, creating methods that work in the field, writing manuscripts and successfully dealing with other small challenges that arise when executing research.

What do you want to do after graduation, and how will working on this project help you to achieve that goal?
After I graduate, I would like to work in land management. I have been on the application side of research before, e.g., implementing restoration strategies based on current research. However, I have not been on the frontline side, which is doing the research that leads to the management applications. Participating in this project is helping me broaden my field experience and hone my research skills.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us regarding your background and interests?
When I am not studying plants and ecosystems, I usually am still enjoying the land in some way through outdoor hobbies like trail running, backpacking, rock-climbing, beachcombing, biking, landscape photography and pressed flower art.