Dr. Allison Dennert, PhD
Quantitative Salmon Ecologist

Allison 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

Multiple humpback whales with only their mouths above water while bubble-net feeding.

Join us at The Polygon Gallery for the 2024 Raincoast Ocean Science Awards

An evening to celebrate marine conservation and excellence in science.

A well muscled cougar marks the trail, as seen from a camera trap.

The life of cougars: Territory tactics

Unveiling the art of male scent marking and territory claiming.

A map centered on Vancouver Island with green lines in the water showing the movement of Achiever in September 2024.

Where is our research vessel, Achiever?

Our new map shows the live location of Achiever as…

Whale blows water into the air with a large ship in the background.

The killer whales are speaking, but is the minister of transport listening?

Studies have shown that killer whales’ ability to communicate is…

Killer whales swimming in the foreground on a grey day with grey water, and a ship in the background.

Sounding the alarm: The federal draft Ocean Noise Strategy falls short

Why Canada’s draft Ocean Noise Strategy misses the mark.

Underwater and the light is streaming down on a salmon resting on the bottom rocks.

BC NGOs head to Seattle for final step in their objection to the MSC certification of southeast Alaska salmon fisheries

Alaska’s fisheries should not be accredited with Marine Stewardship Council’s…

Notes and references

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