During an investigation on foraging behaviour of bears at Bag Harbour, Moresby Island,  I noticed that each of 8 bear transferred about 1000 kg of salmon carcasses into the forest. This resulted in large accumulation of nutrients throughout the forest floor, nutrients that were used by a diverse assemblage of scavengers including marten, eagles, crows, ravens, gulls and insects. These initial observations (refs) have stimulated  several new projects using nitrogen and carbon isotope ratios to characterize the uptake of salmon-derived nutrients. Initial results indicate that the yearly transfer of these marine-derived nutrients is detectable in the yearly growth rings of  the ancient conifers that grow along the sides of the streams (ref). Graduate students have further extended the studies of herbs, shrubs, invertebrates and bears to identify the extent of nutrient transfer from marine to riparian habitats.

Thanks to the  David Suzuki Foundation for primary support of this research and to Friends of Ecological Reserves.