Zoology and river research
Allan studied zoology at the University of British Columbia and earned his zoology doctorate at Michigan. His research examines how flow alteration, watershed land use and nutrient runoff influence river ecosystems and their biological processes.
References: [1]
Connecting channels and watersheds
His research topics include nonpoint nutrient inputs, aquatic connectivity and restoration effectiveness. Collaborative publications consider dams and road crossings as barriers and evaluate agricultural-management scenarios, placing stream restoration within a wider spatial and land-use setting.
References: [1]
Pressures and services in the Great Lakes
Allan’s Great Lakes work has addressed human stressors, threat mapping and ecosystem services. Studies compare the distribution of multiple pressures and social benefits, contributing to discussion of where restoration efforts should be directed within multi-stressor landscapes.
References: [1]
Teaching and conservation organisations
With M. M. Castillo and K. A. Capps, Allan published the third edition of Stream Ecology: Structure and Function of Running Waters in 2021. He also served on boards of American Rivers and The Nature Conservancy’s Michigan chapter, linking research with freshwater conservation.