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

Brian Falconer sits in the Great Bear Rainforest to speak to key elements of securing commercial hunting tenures in the GBR.

Brian Falconer on CFAX 1070 speaks to importance of securing commercial hunting tenures

Brian Falconer joined Adam Stirling on CFAX 1070 to discuss…

A wolverine stands in a stream below a log overhead, with a salmon head hanging from its mouth.

Next step for safeguarding large carnivores in the Great Bear Rainforest

Raincoast Conservation Foundation, with the support of Coastal First Nations,…

A grizzly bear stands in the long grass on the shores of the Great Bear Rainforest: Save the Great Bears.

Raincoast submission on the grizzly hunt consultation

On November 1, 2017, Raincoast submitted our comments to the…

Southern Resident Killer Whales in the Salish Sea.

Raincoast’s Misty MacDuffee speaks with CFAX about endangered killer whales

Raincoast’s Misty MacDuffee speaks with CFAX’s Adam Stirling about Southern…

A grizzly bear wanders over the grassy shores of the Great Bear Rainforest.

Save the Great Bears campaign update

The NDP announcement to end all hunting of grizzly bears…

Kevin Smith, CEO, and Maureen Gordon, Marketing Manager, of Maple Leaf Adventures.

Maple Leaf Adventures makes long-term commitment to Raincoast science and research

Maple Leaf Adventures is a local expedition cruise company who…

Notes and references

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

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