Miss Alison Paul

Miss Alison Paul

Senior Curator, Pteridophytes

Department: Life Sciences
Division: LS Algae, Fungi and Plants Division
Specialisms: Ferns; curation; collections management; integrated pest management.

Summary

I am responsible for the management and development of the Museum’s collection of ferns and lycophytes. Comprising approx. 340,000 specimens, spanning almost four centuries and with global coverage, it is one of the world’s largest and most important pteridophyte collections. I also co-ordinate Integrated Pest Management for the NHM's botanical collections.

Qualifications

    Degrees

  • BSc (Hons) Horticultural Botany, The University of Reading, United Kingdom, 1974 - 1978

Employment history

    Academic

  • Senior Curator, Pteridophytes, The Natural History Museum, Botany Department (Life Sciences from 2013), England, 2007 - ongoing
  • Curator of Pteridophytes, The Natural History Museum, Botany, England, 1991 - 2007
  • Scientific Officer, Fern Section, The Natural History Museum, Botany, England, 1983 - 1991
  • Assistant Scientific Officer, Fern Section, British Museum (Natural History), Botany, England, 1979 - 1983

Editorships

Editor, British Pteridological Society Bulletin, British Pteridological Society, 1990 - on going.

Associate editor, British Pteridological Society Bulletin, British Pteridological Society, 1987 - 1989.

Publications

(2016) A community-derived classification for extant lycophytes and ferns. Journal of Systematics and Evolution, 54 (6) : 563 - 603. doi: 10.1111/jse.12229

Gibby M, Paul AM (2016) The publications of A.C. Jermy. The Fern Gazette, 20 (3) : 136 - 142.

Paul AM (2015) Anthony Clive Jermy 3rd July 1932 - 25th July 2014. British Pteridological Society Bulletin, 8 (1) : 91 - 93.

Paul AM (2015) Grave matters.... Pteridologist, 6 (2) : 175 - 175.

Paul AM (2015) Shopping centre ferns!. Pteridologist, 6 (2) : 145 - 145.

PAUL AM (2010) Azolla filiculoides.. http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/species-of-the-day/biodiversity/economic-impact/azolla-filiculoides/index.html :

PAUL AM (2010) Lecanopteris spinosa.. http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/species-of-the-day/collections/our-collections/lecanopteris-spinosa/index.html :

PAUL AM (2010) Living Walls. Pteridologist, 5 : 151 - 152.

PAUL AM (2010) Honorary membership citation - John Woodhams. British Pteridological Society Bulletin, 7 : 184 - 185.

Stafford PJ, Paul AM (2009) The Northwest European Pollen Flora, 69. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 157 (1-2) : 2 - 21. doi: 10.1016/j.revpalbo.2008.12.002

PAUL AM (2003) New Zealand Ferns and Allied Plants by P.J. Brownsey & J.C. Smith-Dodsworth. Pteridologist, 4 :

PAUL AM (2003) The Natural History Museum’s botanical collections - a conservation resource; the rare & endangered British plants database project. [Poster], In: Proceedings of the International Symposium: Fern Flora Worldwide, Threats and Responses, Abstracts, Dyer AF, Sheffield E, Wardlaw AC (Eds). The Fern Gazette 16: 442-443 : Guildford, UK, 2001.

RUMSEY FJ, VOGEL JC, JERMY AC, PAUL AM, RUSSELL SJ, Simpson KA, Barrett JA, Lockton A, Gibby M (2003) Conserving the fen buckler fern (Dryopteris cristata L.) in the British Isles. [Poster abstract], In: Proceedings of the International Symposium: Fern Flora Worldwide, Threats and Responses, Guildford, UK, 2001, Dyer AF, Sheffield E, Wardlaw AC (Eds). The Fern Gazette 16 :

Tittley I, Huxley R, Paul AM, Rumsey FJ, Chimonides PJ (1999) Monitoring of Eel Grass beds in Morecambe Bay European Marine Site. A report to British Gas Hydrocarbon Resources Limited.. : The Natural History MuseumLondon. 16.

Gibby M, Paul AM (1994) Pteridophyta. In: Flora of Madeira, In: Flora of Madeira, Press JR, Short M, Turland NJ (Eds). The Stationery Office/Tso : 574.

Jermy AC, Paul AM (1993) Revision of accounts of 8 pteridophyte genera. In: Flora Europaea, In: Flora Europaea, Tutin TG, et al. (Eds). Cambridge University Press : 629.

Derrick LN, Jermy AC, Paul AM (1987) Checklist of European Pteridophytes. Sommerfeltia, 6 : i-xx - 1-94.

Paul AM (1987) The status of Ophioglossum azoricum (Ophioglossaceae: Pteridophyta) in the British Isles. Fern Gazette, 13 (3) : 173 - 187.

Courses taught

Professional training: IPM (Integrated Pest Management) Identification training
6/2014.

Awards

Outstanding Contribution Award, 2010.

Introduction

Summary

I am responsible for the management and development of the Museum’s collection of ferns and lycophytes. Comprising approx. 340,000 specimens, spanning almost four centuries and with global coverage, it is one of the world’s largest and most important pteridophyte collections. I also co-ordinate Integrated Pest Management for the NHM's botanical collections.

Qualifications

    Degrees

  • BSc (Hons) Horticultural Botany, The University of Reading, United Kingdom, 1974 - 1978

Employment history

    Academic

  • Senior Curator, Pteridophytes, The Natural History Museum, Botany Department (Life Sciences from 2013), England, 2007 - ongoing
  • Curator of Pteridophytes, The Natural History Museum, Botany, England, 1991 - 2007
  • Scientific Officer, Fern Section, The Natural History Museum, Botany, England, 1983 - 1991
  • Assistant Scientific Officer, Fern Section, British Museum (Natural History), Botany, England, 1979 - 1983
Professional activities

Editorships

Editor, British Pteridological Society Bulletin, British Pteridological Society, 1990 - on going.

Associate editor, British Pteridological Society Bulletin, British Pteridological Society, 1987 - 1989.

Publications

Publications

(2016) A community-derived classification for extant lycophytes and ferns. Journal of Systematics and Evolution, 54 (6) : 563 - 603. doi: 10.1111/jse.12229

Gibby M, Paul AM (2016) The publications of A.C. Jermy. The Fern Gazette, 20 (3) : 136 - 142.

Paul AM (2015) Anthony Clive Jermy 3rd July 1932 - 25th July 2014. British Pteridological Society Bulletin, 8 (1) : 91 - 93.

Paul AM (2015) Grave matters.... Pteridologist, 6 (2) : 175 - 175.

Paul AM (2015) Shopping centre ferns!. Pteridologist, 6 (2) : 145 - 145.

PAUL AM (2010) Azolla filiculoides.. http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/species-of-the-day/biodiversity/economic-impact/azolla-filiculoides/index.html :

PAUL AM (2010) Lecanopteris spinosa.. http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/species-of-the-day/collections/our-collections/lecanopteris-spinosa/index.html :

PAUL AM (2010) Living Walls. Pteridologist, 5 : 151 - 152.

PAUL AM (2010) Honorary membership citation - John Woodhams. British Pteridological Society Bulletin, 7 : 184 - 185.

Stafford PJ, Paul AM (2009) The Northwest European Pollen Flora, 69. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 157 (1-2) : 2 - 21. doi: 10.1016/j.revpalbo.2008.12.002

PAUL AM (2003) New Zealand Ferns and Allied Plants by P.J. Brownsey & J.C. Smith-Dodsworth. Pteridologist, 4 :

PAUL AM (2003) The Natural History Museum’s botanical collections - a conservation resource; the rare & endangered British plants database project. [Poster], In: Proceedings of the International Symposium: Fern Flora Worldwide, Threats and Responses, Abstracts, Dyer AF, Sheffield E, Wardlaw AC (Eds). The Fern Gazette 16: 442-443 : Guildford, UK, 2001.

RUMSEY FJ, VOGEL JC, JERMY AC, PAUL AM, RUSSELL SJ, Simpson KA, Barrett JA, Lockton A, Gibby M (2003) Conserving the fen buckler fern (Dryopteris cristata L.) in the British Isles. [Poster abstract], In: Proceedings of the International Symposium: Fern Flora Worldwide, Threats and Responses, Guildford, UK, 2001, Dyer AF, Sheffield E, Wardlaw AC (Eds). The Fern Gazette 16 :

Tittley I, Huxley R, Paul AM, Rumsey FJ, Chimonides PJ (1999) Monitoring of Eel Grass beds in Morecambe Bay European Marine Site. A report to British Gas Hydrocarbon Resources Limited.. : The Natural History MuseumLondon. 16.

Gibby M, Paul AM (1994) Pteridophyta. In: Flora of Madeira, In: Flora of Madeira, Press JR, Short M, Turland NJ (Eds). The Stationery Office/Tso : 574.

Jermy AC, Paul AM (1993) Revision of accounts of 8 pteridophyte genera. In: Flora Europaea, In: Flora Europaea, Tutin TG, et al. (Eds). Cambridge University Press : 629.

Derrick LN, Jermy AC, Paul AM (1987) Checklist of European Pteridophytes. Sommerfeltia, 6 : i-xx - 1-94.

Paul AM (1987) The status of Ophioglossum azoricum (Ophioglossaceae: Pteridophyta) in the British Isles. Fern Gazette, 13 (3) : 173 - 187.

Teaching and students

Courses taught

Professional training: IPM (Integrated Pest Management) Identification training
6/2014.

Impact and outreach

Awards

Outstanding Contribution Award, 2010.