Science is foundational to the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. We conduct, commission, share, and analyze studies to guide decisions and tackle key issues like climate change or the loss of biodiversity and habitat. Not only is this critical for our efforts, but it provides resources to support our partners’ work and helps make the case for policy changes.
research & reports
Bibliography
Our work has been referenced in a wide range of publications and peer-reviewed journals.
A complete bibliography of publications containing references to Y2Y. Last updated November 2024.
Articles
The following articles were co-authored by Y2Y staff.
- Aycrigg, J.L., et al. (2016) Completing the System: Opportunities and Challenges for a National Habitat Conservation System. Bioscience. 66(9): 774-784.
- Carlson, M., Young, H., Linnard, A. et al. (2022) Supplementing Environmental Assessments with Cumulative Effects Scenario Modeling for Grizzly Bear Connectivity in the Bow Valley, Alberta, Canada. Environmental Management.
- Costanza, J.K. and Terando, A.J. (2019) Landscape Connectivity Planning for Adaptation to Future Climate and Land-Use Change. Curr Landscape Ecol Rep (2019) 4: 1.
- Fisher, Jason T. et al. (2022) Wolverines (Gulo gulo) in a changing landscape and warming climate: A decadal synthesis of global conservation ecology research. Global Ecology and Conservation, vol. 34.
- Hauer, F.R., et al. (2016) Gravel-bed river floodplains are the ecological nexus of glaciated mountain landscapes. Science Advances. 2(6): 1-13.
- Hebblewhite, M., Hilty, J. A., Williams, S., Locke, H., Chester, C., Johns, D., Kehm, G., & Francis, W. L. (2021) Can a large-landscape conservation vision contribute to achieving biodiversity targets? Conservation Science and Practice, e588.
- Hilty, J.A., Chester, C., Wright, P., Zenkewich, K. (2024) Uniting hearts and lands: advancing conservation and restoration across the Yellowstone to Yukon region. Frontiers in Conservation Science, Rewilding in Practice special section, 4:1264460.
- Hilty, J., et al. (2020) Guidelines for conserving connectivity through ecological networks and corridors. IUCN Best Practice Protected Area Guidelines Series, no. 30.
- Holterman, D., Pamela Wright, & Aerin Jacob. (2023) Advancing Evidence-Based Decision-Making in Large Landscape Conservation Through the Social Sciences: A Research Agenda for the Yellowstone to Yukon Region, Mountain Research and Development, 43(4), A1-A10.
- Johns, D. (2016) Rewilding. Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences.
- Locke, H. (2018) The International Movement to Protect Half the World: Origins, Scientific Foundations, and Policy Implications, Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences.
- Locke, H., et al. (2019) Three Global Conditions for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use: an implementation framework, National Science Review.
- Loosen, A., et al. (2023) Understanding the role of traditional and user-created recreation data in the cumulative footprint of recreation. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism.
- Mitchell, M.G.E., et al. (2021) Identifying key ecosystem service providing areas to inform national-scale conservation planning. Environmental Research Letters. 16 014038.
- Palm, E.C., Fluker, S., Nesbitt, H.K., Jacob, A.L., Hebblewhite, M. The long road to protecting critical habitat for species at risk: The case of southern mountain woodland caribou. Conservation Science and Practice. 2020;e219.
- Pearce, J.L. et al. (2008) Prioritizing avian conservation areas for the Yellowstone to Yukon region of North America. Biological Conservation. 141(1): 908-924.
- Schepens, Gabriel, Karine Pigeon, Anne Loosen, Anne Forshner, Aerin L. Jacob. (2023) Synthesis of habitat models for management of wolverine (Gulo gulo): Identifying key habitat and snow refugia in the Columbia and Rocky Mountains, Canada, Global Ecology and Conservation, Volume 46, 2023.
- Theobald, D., Aerin L. Jacob, Paul R. Elsen, Erik A. Beever, Libby Ehlers, Jodi Hilty. (2024) Evaluating ecosystem protection and fragmentation of the world’s major mountain regions. Conservation Biology.
- Thompson, Patrick & Gonzalez, Andrew. (2017). Dispersal governs the reorganization of ecological networks under environmental change. Nature Ecology & Evolution. 1. 0162. 10.1038/s41559-017-0162.
Reports
The following reports were prepared for Y2Y or by Y2Y staff, partners, interns, or post-docs.
- Alexander, S., and J. Gailus. (2005) A GIS-Based Approach to Restoring Connectivity Across Banff’s Trans-Canada Highway. Technical Report No. 4, Prepared for Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. April 2005. 36p. [LINK]
- Ament, R., T. Clevenger, N. Darlow, and T. Lee. (2008) At the Crossroads: Highway 3 Transportation Corridor Workshop Summary. Prepared for the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. March 2008. 24p. [LINK]
- Apps, C. (2013) Assessing Cumulative Impacts to Wide-Ranging Species Across the Peace Break Region of Northeastern British Columbia. Prepared for Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. 85p. [Full Report] – [Summary]
- Blank, M., and T. Clevenger. (2009) Improving the Ecological Function of the Upper Bow. Technical Report No. 7, Prepared for Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. 50p. [LINK]
- Brodie, J.F. and J. Berger (undated) The Peel River Watershed: Ecological Crossroads and Beringian Hotspot of Arctic and Boreal Biodiversity. Prepared for the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. 36p. [LINK]
- Bruckeder, S. and Holterman, D. (2023). Issue sheet: The economic, socio-cultural, and ecological benefits of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas. Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. [LINK]
- Cawley, A., S. Halperin, N. Louchouarn, and M. Paccassi. (2017) Sharing Canada’s Last Frontier: Creating a Conservation Network to Ensure Continued Wildlife Connectivity in the Mackenzie River Basin. Master’s group project for Bren School of Environmental Science and Management. 83p. [LINK]
- Clevenger, A., C. Apps, T. Lee, and M. Quinn. (2010) Highway 3: Transportation mitigation for wildlife and connectivity in the Crown of the Continent ecosystem. Prepared for the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. May 2010. 52p. [LINK]
- Craighead, F.L. (undated) Wildlife-related Road Impacts in the Yellowstone to Yukon Region. Prepared for the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. 15p. [LINK]
- Dingwall, P.R. and K. Rao (2009) Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park (Canada and USA) Report of the Reactive Monitoring Mission. September 2009. 51p. [LINK]
- Domenech, E. (2017) From Science to Implementation: Solutions for Addressing Exurban Sprawl in the Northern Rockies. May 2017. 40p. [LINK]
- Gailus, J. (2010) A Grizzly Challenge: Ensuring a Future for Alberta’s Threatened Grizzlies. Prepared for Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. 39p. [LINK]
- Gailus, J. (2000) Bringing Conservation Home: Caring for Land, Economies and Communities in Western Canada. Prepared for the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. 40p. [LINK]
- Graumlich, L., and W. L. Francis, editors. (2010) Moving Toward Climate Change Adaptation: The Promise of the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative for Addressing the Region’s Vulnerabilities. Prepared for Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. 87p. [LINK]
- Haber, J., and P. Nelson. (2015) Planning for Connectivity: A guide to connecting and conserving wildlife within and beyond America’s national forests. Prepared for The Center for Large Landscape Conservation, Defenders of Wildlife, Wildlands Network and Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. 24p. [LINK]
- Haufler, J.B., and C.A. Mehl. (2002) Development of Trans-boundary Ecoregions for the Yellowstone to Yukon Planning Area. Prepared for Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. 31p. [LINK]
- Huijser, M.P., and J.S. Begley. (2016) Wildlife Mitigation Opportunities Along U.S. Highway 2, Northwestern Montana. Prepared for Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. 85p. [LINK]
- Lamb, C. and E. Chow. Reconnecting the Rockies: BC 2020-2023 Progress Report. Prepared for Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. March 2024. 56p.
- Lamb, C., Ford, A., McLellan, B.N., Proctor, M.F., Mowat, G., Ciarniello, L., Nielsen, S.E., and Boutin, S. (2020) The ecology of human–carnivore coexistence. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences July 2020, 117 (30) 17876-17883.
- Lausen, C. (2014) Bat Inventory of Flathead River Valley, SW BC. Prepared for the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. October 2014. 13p. [LINK]
- Lee, T., S. Jordan-McLachlan and K. Sanderson. Linking Landscapes Across Highway 3: Wildlife and Road Mitigation Assessment. Prepared for Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. February 2024. 63p.
- Lemieux, Christopher J., Aerin L. Jacob, and Paul A. Gray. (2021) Implementing Connectivity Conservation in Canada. Canadian Council on Ecological Areas (CCEA) Occasional Paper No. 22. Canadian Council on Ecological Areas, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. vi + 216 pp. [POLICY BRIEFING]
- Kociolek, A.V., and A.P. Clevenger. (2011) Effects of Paved Roads on Birds. Technical Report No. 8, Prepared for Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. 29p. [LINK]
- Mahr, M. (1999) Y2Y Aquatics Strategy Workshop. August 1999. 39p. [LINK]
- Mahr, M., and K. Jones. (2005) Bird Biodiversity in the Flathead River Basin. Technical Report No. 5, Prepared for Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. May 2005. 19p. [LINK]
- Mahr, M., and M. Mauro. (2003) Making Science, Making Change: Celebrating Five Years of Research and Collaboration in the Yellowstone to Yukon Region. Prepared for Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. May 2003. 95p. [LINK]
- Mayhood, D.W. (2007) Fishes of the Yellowstone to Yukon Region. Technical Report No. 3, Prepared for Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. Dec. 14, 2007. 37p. [LINK]
- Merrill, T. (2005) Grizzly Bear Conservation in the Yellowstone to Yukon Region. Technical Report No. 6, Prepared for Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. 41p. [LINK]
- Merrill, T. (Undated) Assessing the Effectiveness of Umbrella Species: A brief instruction manual for objective evaluation of the adequacy of umbrella effect. Prepared for Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. 25p. [LINK]
- Merrill, T., D.J. Mattson and C.A. Frissell. (2008) Life history, reserve design and umbrella effects: grizzly bears and aquatic systems in western Montana. Prepared for Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. 36p. [LINK]
- Mitchell, M., and C. Bullen (2020) Ecosystem Services Assessment for British Columbia’s Interior Temperate Rainforest, Upper Columbia Region, and Southern Mountain Caribou Populations. Prepared for Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. 73p. [LINK to full report] [Briefing PDF]
- Muir, J. E. (2004) Identification of Prime Avian Habitat in the Y2Y Ecoregion. Prepared for the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. April 2004. 12p. [LINK]
- Muir, J. E. (2004) Bird Conservation Area Design for the Yellowstone to Yukon Ecoregion. Prepared for the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. August 2004. 14p. [LINK]
- Muir, J. E. (2003) Predicted Avian Habitat Quality in Y2Y. Prepared for the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. April 2003. 5p. [LINK]
- Nowak, K, Berger, J, Panikowski, A., et al. Using community photography to investigate phenology: A case study of coat molt in the mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) with missing data. Ecol Evol. 2020; 00: 1– 12.
- Palm, E. and C. Lamb. Mechanistic movement models for bighorn sheep and rocky mountain elk in the northern Crown of the Continent. Prepared for Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. March 2024. 20p.
- Palm, E. et al. Movement models reveal changing grizzly bear habitat use and functional connectivity in response to human disturbance in the southern Canadian Rocky Mountains. Prepared for Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. March 2024. 66p.
- Pojar, J. (2010) A New Climate for Conservation: Nature, Carbon and Climate Change in British Columbia. Prepared for the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. January 2010. 99p. [LINK]
- Proctor, M., C. Servheen, W. Kasworm, and T. Randandt. (2008) Highway 3 Linkage Report. Prepared for the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. March 2008. 34p. [LINK]
- Vilalta Capdevila, T., Loosen, A., Pigeon, K., Jacob, A., Wright, P. (2022) Mapping recreational linear features beyond documented trails in southwestern Alberta and southeastern British Columbia. Final report. Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative and the University of Northern British Columbia. Canmore, Alberta. December 2022. 42p. [LINK]
- Weaver, J.L. (2006) Big Animals and Small Parks: Implications of Wildlife Distribution and Movements for Expansion of Nahanni National Park Reserve. Conservation Report No. 1. Prepared for Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. 100p. [LINK]
- Weaver, J.L. (2017) Bighorn Backcountry of Alberta: Protecting Vulnerable Wildlife and Precious Waters. Wildlife Conservation Society Canada Conservation Report No. 10. 141 p. [LINK]
- Weaver, J.L. (2019) The Greater Muskwa-Kechika: Building a Better Network for Protecting Wildlife and Wildlands. Wildlife Conservation Society Canada Conservation Report No. 13. [LINK]
- Westwood, A. R., et al. (2017) Strong Foundations: Recap and Recommendations from Scientists Regarding the Federal Environmental and Regulatory Reviews. August 2017. 24p. [LINK] – [Executive summary]
- Westwood, A. R., et al. (2018) Protecting biodiversity in British Columbia: Recommendations for an endangered species law in B.C. from a species at risk expert panel. Report prepared for the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. 27p, [LINK]
- Wilcox, L., B. Robinson and A. Harvey. (1998) A Sense of Place: Issues, Attitudes and Resources in the Yellowstone to Yukon Ecoregion. Prepared for Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. April 1998. 138p. [LINK]
- Williams, Jeremy and G. Q. Bull. (2019) The report, Exploring Emerging Economic Opportunities in the Columbia River Headwaters Region of British Columbia. Prepared for the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. November 2019. 28p. [LINK]
- Yellowstone to Yukon: A Blueprint for Wildlife Conservation. (2003) 25p. [Link]
- Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (2012) Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change Assessment. Prepared for Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Advisory Board. 113p. [Full Report] - [Summary]
