Allison Dennert, PhD
Quantitative Salmon Ecologist

Dr. Allison Dennert is the Quantitative Salmon Ecologist on Raincoast’s Wild Salmon Program team. She conducts scientific research and applied conservation initiatives to advance ecologically sustainable salmon management in BC and support the recovery of at-risk populations.

She completed her Doctorate in Biology at Simon Fraser University in the Earth2Ocean Research Group. Her research examines the role of nutrients from spawning Pacific salmon in terrestrial ecosystems, and she is passionate about coastal wildflowers and their pollinators. As a part of her doctoral work she spent several years living and working in Haíɫzaqv Territory in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest, boating to salmon watersheds and whale watching on the way to work. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of British Columbia in Biology, with a specialization in Marine Biology. 

Prior to her work on Pacific salmon, Allison conducted research on the ecology and speciation of other freshwater fishes in the salmon family. She has worked in eelgrass meadows, inland lakes, behind the microscope, and in a herbarium caring for species of marine algae new to science.

She is also passionate about science education, museums, and science fairs. She is a member of the board of directors of the Evans Lake Forest Education Society, a charitable organization that has provided forest education programs to children and youth since 1960.

In her spare time, Allison enjoys gardening, running, hiking, skiing, and camping. She is often distracted on her adventures and spends much of this time excitedly crouched over interesting insects and plants she finds on the ground.

Publications

A.M. Dennert, E. Elle, and J.D. Reynolds. 2023. Experimental addition of marine-derived nutrients affects wildflower traits in a coastal meta-ecosystem. Royal Society Open Science, 10: 221008. DOI

N.F. Rammell*, A.M. Dennert1, C.M. Ernst, and J.D. Reynolds. 2021. Effects of spawning Pacific salmon on terrestrial invertebrates: Insects near spawning habitat are isotopically enriched with nitrogen‐15 but display no differences in body size. Ecology and Evolution​, 11(18): 12728-12738. DOI

L.D. Siemens, A.M. Dennert2, D.S. Obrist, and J.D. Reynolds. 2020. Spawning salmon density influences fruit production of salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis). Ecosphere, 11: e03282. DOI

A.M. Dennert, S.L. May-McNally, M.H. Bond, T.P. Quinn, and E.B. Taylor. 2016. Trophic biology and migratory patterns of sympatric Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) and Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus). Canadian Journal of Zoology, 94: 529-539. DOI

In the news

Stefan Labbé. ‘Smelly work’: B.C. study finds dead salmon make plants grow bigger, Times Colonist, 2023.

SFU Com.s, How salmon feed flowers & flourishing ecosystems: study, SFU News, 2023.

GrrlScientist. How Salmon Feed Wildflowers And Transform Entire Landscapes. Forbes. 2023.

Molly Campbell. Nutrients From Salmon Carcass Feed Flowers. Technology Network Applied Sciences. 2023.

Nancy MacDonald, Months-long drought on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast prompts water ban, climate anxiety, Globe and Mail, 2022.

Recent articles

6 people walk in a single file line through the forest with their backs to the camera.

A meaningful excuse to plan a party: Peer-to-peer fundraising!

Ways to involve family and friends in supporting Raincoast.

Two salmon biologists stand at the entrance of a jetty breach as they set a net to monitor salmon populations.

Marsh restoration projects in the Lower Fraser River; Woods Island

Restoring a 30 year old compensation site to support salmon.

Aerial view of a cutblock with a forest and creak to the right.

Endangered caribou, wolves, and ecological integrity

Killing wolves to protect caribou may accelerate ecological decline and…

A grey whale surfaces from teal water.

Goodness Grey-cious!

A surprise visit from a grey whale in Swanson Channel.

Slide 2: An ecotype is a population within the same species that has developed unique genetic traits over time in response to the specific environment it lives in, such as local climate, available prey, or habitat type. Two primary wolf ecotypes are recognized in BC.

Wolf ecotypes in BC

Understanding the ecotype of recovering wolves is critical for conservation,…

On the left is a coastal rainforest ecotype of wolf, with dark fur, and the left is a Northern Rocky Mountain forest ecotype wolf, in a snowy scene with light grey fur and a larger head.

Genetic legacy and ecological differences of grey wolves (Canis lupus) in southern British Columbia

Understanding the ecotype of recovering wolf populations is important for…

Notes and references

  1. Shared joint first-authorship.
  2. Cover image © Allison M. Dennert, Ecosphere (Volume 11, Issue 12)

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