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Scientific Literature

All of Raincoast’s published scientific papers, abstracts, and conference proceedings.

Research: Dietary differences among individuals with different genes and coat colours gives insight into the maintenance of the Spirit bears among black bear populations

A map and a science figure from Christina Service's paper hover in the foreground with a Spirit bear scratching their ear in the background.

Published on 2021.05.06 | by Raincoast | in Scientific Literature

The paper, “Intrapopulation foraging niche variation between phenotypes and genotypes of Spirit bear populations,” was published in the open-access journal Ecology and Evolution.

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Research: The eroding social license to hunt carnivores

A snapshot of the Conservation Biology research article floats in front of a giant grizzly bear in the mist.

Published on 2021.02.11 | by Raincoast | in Scientific Literature

A new study suggests killing predators like wolves, grizzly bears, and cougars for trophy is a potential threat not only to these sensitive animals, but also to other hunters…

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Chinook salmon exhibit long-term rearing and early marine growth in the Fraser River, B.C., a large urban estuary

A tiny juvenile Chinook salmon in a viewfinder in the Lower Fraser River.

Published on 2021.01.20 | by Raincoast | in Scientific Literature

Using tiny salmon ear bones, or otoliths, Raincoast researchers and partners were able to demonstrate that Chinook salmon from Harrison River rely on the Fraser estuary for one to two months while they feed and grow. These findings underscore the critical nature of this habitat for the persistence and recovery of Chinook salmon…

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Research: Conservation in heavily urbanized biodiverse regions requires urgent management action and attention to governance

An infographic about the Fraser Estuary overlayed on top of an underwater photo of some salmon.

Published on 2020.12.15 | by Raincoast | in Scientific Literature

A new open access research paper led by Dr. Tara Martin at the UBC Conservation Decisions Lab applied a novel conservation decision making tool called Priority Threat Management to identify the most cost-effective management strategies needed to address the threats facing 102 species at risk identified in the area…

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Research: Compliance of small vessels to minimum distance regulations for humpback and killer whales in the Salish Sea

A Southern Resident killer whale fin above the water in the Salish Sea with graphs from a research paper in the foreground.

Published on 2020.10.06 | by Raincoast | in Scientific Literature

The rise of vessel traffic, the growth of the whale watching industry, increased interactions between whales and small vessels, and the precarious existence of Southern Residents in particular, has given rise to some regulations from the federal government that attempt to mitigate the harm these interactions pose…

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Research: Addressing poor statistical support for wolf control and maternal penning as conservation measures for endangered mountain caribou

A wolf walks across the beach in the early morning light, with figure 1 in the foreground.

Published on 2020.07.15 | by Raincoast | in Scientific Literature

The scientists looked closely at the data provided in a previous study that examined how 18 caribou populations responded to different treatments including wolf culls, maternal penning, moose reduction, and combinations thereof, as well as controls. There were important errors in the statistical methods associated with that prior study…

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Study: Spatial patterns and rarity of the white‐phased ‘Spirit bear’ allele reveal gaps in habitat protection

Juvenile Spirit bear and black bear mother stand by a river with salmon strewn across the bank.

Published on 2020.07.08 | by Raincoast | in Scientific Literature

New research has identified that the small genetic change responsible for Spirit bears – a rare, white-coated form of black bears – is up to 50% rarer in the Great Bear Rainforest than previously estimated. The study also indicates that geographic hotspots, where the Spirit bear version of the gene was especially prominent lack adequate protection from resource extraction…

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On the risk of pathogens carried by hypermobile human predators

A map of disease vectors is overlayed on a photo of a Norwegian Fjord, with a headline at the bottom: Hypermobile human predators.

Published on 2020.04.10 | by Raincoast | in Scientific Literature

In a recent commentary published in Nature Human Behaviour, “Hypermobile human predators,” Raincoast scientists Chris Darimont and Heather Bryan raise questions regarding potential differences between human hunters and other predators with respect to the potential for disease transmission in prey populations and point out a need for further research…

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New research: Indigenous knowledge and federal environmental assessments in Canada

Tsawout First Nation, University of Guelph, University of Victoria, and Raincoast Conservation Foundation logos on top of an aerial photo from Fort McKay.

Published on 2020.02.13 | by Raincoast | in Scientific Literature

A team of non-Indigenous and Indigenous researchers identifies surmountable and deep-rooted obstacles to improving how the federal Impact Assessment Act incorporates Indigenous Knowledge and engages with Indigenous Knowledge systems…

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Supporting resurgent Indigenous-led governance: A nascent mechanism for just and effective conservation

Three maps of human populations especially Indigenous communities, overlaid on a photo of mountains and waters of the Great Bear Rainforest.

Published on 2020.01.06 | by Raincoast | in Scientific Literature

A new publication finds that in many cases a resurgence in Indigenous governance can increase both the scale and effectiveness of biodiversity protections…

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Raising the bar: Recovery ambition for species at risk in Canada and the US

Southern Resident kill whale, J50, swims off, with the research figures in the top right.

Published on 2019.12.19 | by Raincoast | in Scientific Literature

An estimated one million species are at risk of extinction globally. In Canada and the United states, there is legislation that is intended to protect species at risk. However, the majority of species are not recovering in either country.

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Ecology and Evolution: Functional response of wolves to human development across boreal North America

Four wolves walk up a hill following a narrow path, research maps superimposed on top.

Published on 2019.11.13 | by Raincoast | in Scientific Literature

Previous research on how wolves are affected by human development have been limited in scope and location and the results were mixed. Wolves adapted in a range of ways depending on contextual factors like road or cutblock density. Research undertaken by a team of conservation scientists, including Paul Paquet of Raincoast Conservation Foundation, endeavoured to […]

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