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

Dr. Peter Ross and Clint Wright stand arm in arm smiling at the camera, with a sprinter van that has been converted into a mobile water pollution lab visible behind them.

A conversation with Clint Wright, VP and Executive Director of the Vancouver Aquarium

Just over two weeks remain until Raincoast hosts the annual…

Map of all locations where species-positive killer whale (Orcinus orca; n = 56) and humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae; n = 18) flukeprint samples were collected across British Columbia (Canada). Map of wider British Columbia (left) indicates the two study sites: North coast (pink; top right) and south coast (orange; bottom right). Inset map (top left) shows both study sites (red) in relation to the North American continent. All samples were collected under Fisheries and Oceans Canada Marine Mammal License 18 (MML18).

New research: Determining the sex of whales via environmental DNA samples

Application of environmental DNA beyond species detection for cetaceans.

Engaging the next generation of land healing stewards

Engaging the next generation of land healing stewards

Immersed in the ecosystems of the Salish Sea, youth from…

Jason Hwang stands in front of the water wearing his Pacific Salmon Foundation jacket, smiling widely without his glasses.

Episode 13: Careers in conservation with Jason Hwang, Pacific Salmon Foundation

How to navigate the waters of the environmental job market.

Close up of tiny orange fish eggs showing their eyes and some hatched eggs underwater.

Shared Waters of the Salish Sea

The films and panel at the Vic Theatre in mid…

Notes and references

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

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