Marlow G. Pellatt, Ph.D., RPBio

Coastal Ecologist - Parks Canada, Western and Northern Service Centre

Garry oak (Quercus garryana)

Gulf Island National Park Reserve of Canada

 

Biography

Current Position:

Coastal Ecologist - Parks Canada, Western and Northern Service Centre:

This research and advisory position focuses on the ecological integrity of Canada’s coastal national parks and National Marine Conservation Areas.  In particular, my scientific expertise is in modern and paleoecological processes of coastal environments.  My research focus includes understanding the linkages between marine and terrestrial ecosystems, historical ecology and fire history of southern British Columbia, aquatic ecology in the Hudson Bay Lowlands, Arctic EI monitoring, and climate change.  I am involved in regional, national, and international initiatives concerning conservation, paleoecology, climate change, ecological monitoring, and species at risk. 

 

Adjunct Professor – School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University.

 

Graduate Faculty – Department of Geography, University of Guelph.

 

Post-Doctoral Fellowship:

Ocean Drilling Program Leg 169S - Saanich Inlet, British Columbia (NSERC Collaborative Special Project)

This research project involved the high-resolution palynological analysis (1 to 25 year intervals) of marine sediments with the goal of linking the terrestrial and oceanic history for the region. This project is one of world’s most detailed, continuous, Holocene (last 10,000 years) records of terrestrial and oceanographic conditions and ecosystems.

 

Educational History:

Ph.D. 1996 - Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University.  My doctoral dissertation is titled Postglacial Changes in Vegetation and Climate Near Treeline in British Columbia.

 

B.Sc. 1990 - Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University. Course emphasis was in ecology and aquatic/coastal ecology.

Research Collaborators (past and present)

Research Scientists, Professors, Postdoctoral Fellows, Graduate Students, and Research Assistants.

 

·         Dr. Ze’ev Gedalof – University of Guelph

·         Dr. Rolf Mathewes – Simon Fraser University

·         Dr. Wolfgang Haider - Simon Fraser University

·         Dr. Rick Routledge – Simon Frasr University

·         Dr. Darren Bos – Paleolimnology (PDF)

·         Dr. Brenda Beckwith – Ethnobotany (PDF)

·         Mr. Eric Baron – Development of an Aquatic invertebrate Index of Biotic Integrity – Supervisor Graduate Committee member, Master of Resource Management, SFU.

·         Ms. Ilona Naujokaitis-Lewis – Human Use and Species at Risk interactions in Canada’s coastal national parks. – Supervisor Graduate Committee member, Master of Resource Management, SFU.

·         Ms. Marian McCoy – Paleoecology and fire history of Garry oak ecosystems. – Supervisor Graduate Committee member, Master of Science, SFU.

·         Ms. Shyanne Smith – Dendrochronology of Garry oak ecosystems, – Graduate Committee member, Master of  Science, University  of Guelph.

·         Ms. Karin Bodtker, MRM – Research Assistant

·         Ms. Emma Bredesen, MSc – Research Assistant

·         Mr. Simon Goring, Paleoecological Investigation of Bark Beetle Infestations in British Columbia. Graduate Committee Member, Master of Science, SFU.

 

Selected Publications, Conference Presentations, and Invited Presentations

 

Refereed Journal and Book Publications:

Bos, D.G., Pellatt, M.G. and Finney, B.P. (2004). Understanding past changes in Pacific Salmon and the implications of climate change on ecosystem structure and function. Research Links.

Brahney, J., Bos, D., Pellatt, M.G., Edwards, T.,  Routledge, R. (2006). δ15N and C:N as indicators of nitrogen limitation in sockeye salmon nursery lakes, British Columbia, Canada. Limnology and Oceanography.

Gedalof, Z., Pellatt, M.G. and Smith, D.J. (2006). From prairie to forest: three centuries of environmental change at Rocky Point, Vancouver Island, BC. Northwest Science.

Hebda, R., Pellatt, M.G., Mathewes, R.W., Fedje, D. and Acheson, S. (2005). Vegetation history of Anthony Island, Haida Gwaii and its relationship to climate change and human settlement. In (Fedje, D. and Mathewes, R.W. Haida Gwaii: Human History and Environment from the Time of Loon to the Time of Iron People. UBC Press.

Holtham, A.J., Gregory-Eaves, I., Pellatt, M.G., Selbie, D.T., Stewart, L., Finney, B.P. and Smol, J.P. (2004) Reconstructing sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) dynamics in Alaska and British Columbia using paleolimnology: the influence of flushing rates, terrestrial input and low salmon escapement densities. Journal of Paleolimnology. 32:255-271.

Mathewes, R.W. & Pellatt, M.G. (2000). Holocene climate in the south-central interior of British  Columbia. In: Hayden, B. (Editor), The Ancient Past of  Keatley Creek Vol. 1. Taphonomy. pp.59-64. Archaeology Press, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada.

Pellatt, M.G., Gedolof, Z., McCoy, M., Bodtker, K., Canon, A., Smith, S., Beckwith, B., Mathewes, R.W., Smith, D. (2007). Fire History and Ecology of Garry Oak and Associated Ecosystems in British Columbia. Final Report for the Interdepartmental Recovery Fund Project 733. WNSC Publication.

Pellatt, M.G. (2004).  Book Review: Cumberland Island National Seashore: A history of conservation conflict by Lary M. Dilsaver.  Environmental Reviews. 12:219-220.

Pellatt, M.G. (2002). The role of paleoecology in understanding ecological integrity: an example from a highly fragmented landscape in the Straight of Georgia Lowlands. In: Bondrop-Nielson, S., Munro, N., Nelson, G. Willison, J.H.M., Herman, T., Eagles, P. (Editors) Managing Protected Areas in a Changing World, Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Science and Management of Protected Areas. pp. 384-397.  14 – 19 May 2000. Canada: SAMPAA.

Pellatt M.G. (2001). Snapshots of the Past – Paleoecological Research in Coastal British Columbia’s National Park Reserves. Research Links, 8(3): 14-17.

Pellatt, M.G., Hebda, R.J. & Mathewes, R.W. (2001). High resolution Holocene vegetation and climate from Core 1034B, ODP Leg 169S, Saanich Inlet, Canada. Marine Geology, 174: 211-222.

Pellatt, M.G. and MacMillan, G. 2000. Predicting species distribution on a small island in the north Pacific: application of Geographic Information System and ordination to protected area management. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Integrating Geographic Information System and Environmental Modeling (GIS/EM4): Problems, Prospects and Research needs. Banff, Alberta. http://www.colorado.edu/research/cires/banff/upload/320/

Pellatt, M.G. & Mathewes, R.W. (1997). Holocene treeline and climate change on the Queen Charlotte Islands, Canada. Quaternary Research, 48: 88-99.

Pellatt, M.G. & Mathewes, R.W. (1994) Paleoecology of postglacial tree line fluctuations on the Queen Charlotte Islands,  Canada. Ecoscience, 1: 71-81.

Pellatt, M.G., Mathewes, R.W. & Clague, J.J. (2002). Implications of a late-glacial pollen record for the glacial and climatic history of the Fraser Lowland, British Columbia. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoclimatology Special Issue, New Frontiers and Applications in Palynology and Micropalaeontology: A Canadian Perspective, 180: 147-158.

Pellatt, M.G., Mathewes, R.W. and Clague, J.J. (2004). Reply to comments on: Implications of a late-glacial pollen record for the glacial and climatic history of the Fraser Lowland, British Columbia by Pellatt et al., 2002". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoclimatology.

Pellatt, M.G., Mathewes, R.W. & Walker, I.R. (1997). Pollen analysis and ordination of lake sediment-surface samples from coastal British Columbia, Canada. Canadian Journal of Botany, 75: 799-814.

Pellatt, M.G. and Sloan, N. (2006). Estuaries and Salt Marshes of Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve. In Harper, J. & Sloan, N. Living Marine Legacy of Gwaii Haanas. V: Coastal Zone Values and Management around Haida Gwaii.

Pellatt, M.G., Smith, M.J., Mathewes, R.W. & Walker, I.R. (1998). Paleoecology of postglacial treeline shifts in the northern Cascade Mountains, Canada. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 141: 123-138.

Pellatt, M.G., Smith, M.J., Mathewes, R.W., Walker, I.R. & Palmer, S. (2000). Holocene treeline and climate change in the subalpine and alpine zones of southwestern British Columbia. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 32: 73-83.

Smith, M.J., Pellatt, M.G., Walker, I.R. & Mathewes, R.W. (1998). Postglacial changes in chironomid communities and  inferred climate near treeline at Mount Stoyoma, Cascade Mountains, southwestern British Columbia, Canada. Journal of Paleolimnology, 20: 277-293.

Walker, I.R. and Pellatt, M.G. (2003). Climate change in coastal British Columbia – a palaeoenvironmental perspective. Canadian Water Resources Journal.28:531-566.          

Walker, I.R. and Pellatt, M.G. (Accepted) Climate change and ecosystem response in the northern Columbia River basin - a palaeoenvironmental perspective.  Environmental Reviews

 

Submitted, In-Preparation, Grey Literature, Reports.

 

Bos, D.G. and Pellatt, M.G (2005). Wapusk National Park, Limnological Survey of Ponds. Parks Canada Agency, Western and Northern Service Centre Technical Report Series.

Bos, D.G. and Pellatt, M.G (2005). Aquatic Monitoring Pilot Wapusk National Park. Parks Canada Agency,  Western and Northern Service Centre Technical Report Series.

Bos, D.G., Pellatt, M.G. and Finney, B.  (In Prep) Sedimentary δ15N as an indicator of past salmon abundance: opportunities and obstacles.  Ecoscience.

Brahney, J., Routledge, R., Bos, D., and Pellatt, M.G. (Submitted).  Influence of commercial fishing on the ecology of Long Lake, Smith Inlet, central coast of British Columbia, Canada. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.

Gedalof, Z., Pellatt, M.G., Lewis, D.H. and Smith, D.J. (2005) Paleoenvironmental analysis of Garry oak ecosystems on southern Vancouver Island.  Paleoecology Laboratory, University of Guelph, Report #0402.

Goring, S.J., Pellatt, M.G., Lacourse, T.,Walker, I.R., and Mathewes, R.W. (Submitted). Climate and vegetation correlates of modern pollen spectra using the British Columbia Modern Pollen Database. Journal of Biogeography.

Holtham, A.J., Pellatt, M.G. and Smol, J.P. (In-Prep) Changes in salinity regimes and marine inundation over the last ~1200 years in a coastal British Columbia lake: Inferences from diatom, chrysophyte, geochemical and stable isotope paleolimnology.

 

Selected Conference Presentations and Invited Seminars (2000-2006):

Pellatt, M.G. (2006). Implications of climate change on Garry oak ecosystems of southern BC. Centre for Applied Conservation Research Spring Symposium. April 3. UBC. Invited paper/speaker

Pellatt, M.G. (2005). Paleo measures in a changing climate.  Session Chair and Organizer. Climate and Fisheries: Impacts, Uncertainty and Responses of Ecosystems and Communities. October 26-28.

Pellatt, M.G. and Walker, I.R. (2005). Paleoenvironments of Coastal BC. ). Paleo measures in a changing climate session. Climate and Fisheries: Impacts, Uncertainty and Responses of Ecosystems and Communities. October 26-28. . Invited paper/speaker

Pellatt, M.G., Gedalof, Z., McCoy, M., Mathewes, R. and Smith D. (2005). Fire History of Endangered Garry Oak Ecosystems In Southwestern British Columbia, Canada Climate Data and Ecological Responses – Improving Interpretations Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network National Science Meeting 2005. November 20 - November 26, Penticton, British Columbia. . Invited paper/speaker

McCoy, M., Pellatt, M.G., and R. Mathewes. (2005). High-resolution fire and vegetation historyof Garry oak ecosystems in British Columbia. Abstract and Poster: Fire History and Climate Synthesis in Western North America. Northern Arizona University and the Western Mountain Initiative; Flagstaff, Arizona; April

Pellatt, M.G., Smith, D., Robinson, C., Cannon, A., Mathewes, R.W., Gedalof, Z., McCoy, M. (2005). Impacts of  Climate Change and Fire on the Ecological Integrity of Garry Oak Ecosystems: An Active Management Approach for Parks Canada. Garry Oak Ecosystem Recovery Team Research Colloquium; Victoria, BC; February.

McCoy, M., Pellatt, M.G., and R. Mathewes. (2004). Fire and vegetation history of a Garry oak habitat in southwestern British Columbia. Abstract and Poster: Mixed-severity Fire Regimes: Ecology and Management; Washington State University; Spokane, Washington; November, 2004.

Pellatt, M.G., Gedalof, Z., McCoy, M., Mathewes, RW. (2005). Fire history of endangered Garry oak ecosystems in southwestern British Columbia, Canada.  Society for Conservation Biology. July 14-19, 2005.  Brasilia, Brazil.

Bos, D.G. and M. Pellatt.  Investigating the use of nitrogen stable isotopes for reconstructing changes in salmon abundance in coastal British Columbia.  Poster, Science and Management of Protected Areas Conference,  May, 2003.

Pellatt, M.G. & Walker, I.R. Climate change in coastal British Columbia – a palaeoenvironmental perspective. Georgia Basin/Puget Sound Research Conference. Vancouver, B.C. Invited Paper/Speaker.

Pellatt, M.G., Holtham, A.J. & Bos, D.G. Paleoecology of salmon lakes on the west coast of Canada. Society for Conservation Biology, 17th Annual Meeting. Duluth Minnesota, USA.

Baron, E. & Pellatt, M.G. Evaluating a benthic index of biotic integrity (B-IBI) to measure ecological integrity in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve of Canada. Georgia Basin/Puget Sound Research Conference. Vancouver, B.C.

Pellatt, M.G. & Holtham, A. (2002). Land-Sea interactions on the west coast of Canada. Abstract/Oral Presentation at Society for Conservation Biology, 16th Annual Meeting, July 14-19. University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.

Pellatt, M.G. & Walker, I.R. (2002). Climate change in southern British Columbia - a palaeoenvironmental perspective. Toward Ecosystem-Based Management: Breaking Down the Barriers in the Columbia River Basin and Beyond. April 27 - May 1. SYMPOSIA SESSION-5C Developing an Ecosystem-Based Management Framework for Fish, Water and  Associated Habitat in the Okanagan Basin. Spokane, Washington. Invited Paper/Speaker.

Pellatt, M.G. (2001).The ecological history of Saanich Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and its role in protected area management. Abstract/Oral Presentation at Society for Conservation Biology, 15th Annual Meeting, Ecological Lessons from Islands. July 29-August 1. University of Hawaii, Hilo, Hawaii.

Pellatt, M.G. (2000). The role of paleoecology in understanding ecological integrity: An example from a highly fragmented landscape in the Strait of Georgia Lowlands. Abstract/Oral Presentation to be presented at SAMPA IV (Fourth International Conference on Science and the Management of Protected Areas): Learning from the Past, Looking to the Future. May 14 to 19. University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. 

Pellatt, M.G., Mathewes, R.W. & Clague, J.J. (2000). Implications of the Mike Lake pollen record for the glacial and climatic historyof the Fraser Lowland, British Columbia. Abstract/Oral Presentation. GeoCanada 2000, Palynology and Micropalaeontology in Canadian Geoscience: New Frontiers and Applications. May 29 to June 2, 2000. University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Pellatt, M.G., Robinson, C. & MacMillan, G. (2000).  Predicting species distribution in estuaries of the Predicting species distribution in estuaries of the North Pacific: Application of Geographic Information System and ordination to protected area management. Abstract/Poster to be presented at the 4th International Conference on Integrating GIS and Environmental Modeling. September 2-8, 2000: The Banff Centre for Conferences, Banff, Alberta, Canada

Contact Information

Dr. Marlow G. Pellatt, R.P.Bio
Coastal Ecologist
Parks Canada, Western and Northern Service Centre
300 - 300 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V6B 6B4
Lab: (604) 666-2556
Fax: (604) 666-7957

e-mail: mpellatt@sfu.ca