Will Russell
Assistant Professor
Coordinator: BA Teachers Preparation Degree.
Ph.D, Environmental Science Policy & Management, University of California, Berkeley
Phone: 408-924-5487
russell_sjsu@yahoo.com
Research Interests: Forest Conservation and Restoration, Fire Ecology, Coastal Dune Ecology, and Environmental Education.
Courses Taught: Sustainable Forest Management, Environmental Education, Environmental Restoration, Resource Analysis,Environmental Thought, Environmental Research Methods, National Parks, Environmental Research and Writing, Senior Seminar, Life on a Changing Planet, and No Student Left Inside.
Biography: Will Russell received a doctorate degree from the University of California, Berkeley in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, a master’s degree in Environmental Studies from San Jose State University, and an undergraduate degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz in Plant Biology.
His research primarily focuses on the conservation and restoration of forest communities. He is particularly interested in the direct and indirect effects of logging on coastal redwood forests. He has also done extensive work on ecological disturbance in the Sierra Nevada mixed conifer forest, as well as research on the restoration of coastal dune communities. Prior to coming to San Jose State in 2004 Will spent two years with the USDA Forest Service, four years with the USGS Biological Resources Division, and one years with the California State Parks.
In addition, Will has taught in the public schools at both the primary and secondary level and has an abiding interest in developing methods for improving the ways that environmental issues are taught to our children. He is currently involved in developing research projects aimed at measuring the effectiveness of environmental education programs in the public and private sectors.
Current Research: My primary research focus is on the conservation and restoration of forest communities, with particular interest in the sustainable management of coast redwood forests. I am currently investigating natural forest regeneration following timber harvest in the context of the restoration of previously cut-over lands. A lack of base line data on the regenerative processes of coast redwood forests has resulted in management decisions that may not be appropriate to this forest type. In related work I have investigated the effective size of old-growth redwood preserves in relation to adjacent timber harvest, the management of riparian systems within redwood forests, and resiliency of coast redwood following wildfire. Other forest research includes extensive work on ecological disturbance in the Sierra Nevada mixed conifer forest type, including work on the impacts of logging, fire, and development on the composition and structure of forest communities. Outside of forest systems I am working on the restoration and management of coastal dune communities with particular emphasis on fire management in baccharis shrublands, and wildlife response to vegetation restoration in coastal sage scrub. In recent years I have expanded my reserach to include the study of the effectiveness of environmental education programs, including hand-on restoration projects, on the environmental awareness of public school students for lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Publications:
Russell, W., S. Terada. (Submitted for Publication). The Effects of Revetment on Streamside Vegetation in Sequoia sempervirens (Taxodiaceae) forests. Madrono.
Russell, W. (Submitted for Publication). Wildlife Response to Dune Habitat Restoration in Golden Gate National Recreation Area, California, A Case Study. Natural Areas Journal.
Russell, W. H., J. R. McBride, and R. Rowntree. (Submitted for publication). Effects of urban development on upper montane forest structure and diversity in the Sierra Nevada, California. Urban Ecosystems.
Russell, W., and R. Tompkins. 2005. Estimating biomass in coastal Baccharis pilularis dominated plant communities. Fire Ecology, 1:20-27.
Russell, W. H., and J. R. McBride. 2003. Landscape scale vegetation-type conversion and fire hazard in the San Francisco Bay area open spaces. Landscape & Urban Planning 64:201-208.
Russell, W. H., J. R. McBride, and K. Carnell. 2003. Influence of environmental factors on the regeneration of hardwood species on three streams in the Sierra Nevada. Madrono 50:21-27.
Russell, W. H., and C. Jones. 2002. The effects of timber harvesting on the structure and composition of adjacent old-growth coast redwood forest. Landscape Ecology 16:731-741.
Russell, W. H., and J. R. McBride. 2002. Vegetation change and fire hazard in the San Francisco bay area open spaces. Pages 27-38 in: Blonski, K.S., M.E., and T.J. Morales. Proceedings of the California’s 2001 Wildfire Conference: Ten Years After the East Bay Hills Fire; October 10-12, Oakland California. Technical Report 35.01.462. Richmond CA: University of California Forest Products Laboratory.
Russell, William H. 2002. Indirect effects of timber management on riparian vegetation dynamics in coast redwood and mixed conifer forests. Page 40 in: Vaughn, H. Technical Coordinator. Proceedings of the Twentieth Annual Salmonid Restoration Federation Conference. February 28 – March 3, 2002. Ukiah, California.
Russell, W. H., J. R. McBride, and K. Carnell. 2001. Feeding damage by black bears (Ursus americanus) across timber harvest edges in northern California coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forests (USA). Natural Areas Journal 2:324-329.
Russell, W. H., and J. R. McBride. 2001. The relative importance of fire and watercourse proximity in determining stand composition in mixed conifer riparian forests. Forest Ecology and Management 150: 259-265.
Russell, W. H. 2000. Ecology and management of coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forests. In: Winslow, C., and W. H. Russell (eds.). The Proceeding of the Conference on Restoration and Management of Coastal Redwood Forests: Jackson State Demonstration Forest. College of the Redwoods, Mendocino, CA.
Russell, W. H., J. R. McBride, and K. Carnell. 2000. Edge effects and the effective size of old-growth coast redwood preserves. In: Cole, David N.; McCool, Stephen F. 2000. Proceedings: Wilderness Science in a Time of Change. Proc. RMRS-P-000. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.
McBride, J. R., W. Russell, and S. Kloss. 1996. Impacts of human settlement on forest composition and structure. In: Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project: Final Report to Congress, vol.II, Assessments and Scientific Basis for Management Options. Davis: University of California, Centers for Water and Wildland Resources.
Russell, W. H., J. R. McBride, and R. Rowntree. 1998. Revegetation after four stand-replacing fires in the Lake Tahoe basin. Madrono 45(1):40-46.
Russell, W., and K. V. Thimann. 1988. The second messenger in apical dominance controlled by auxin. Plant Growth Substances. Springer-Verlag.
