This Quarter at Trebek
Issue #2
| December 9, 2024
TREBEK CONNECTS
THE WILD
IN THIS ISSUE:
TREBEK CONNECTS THE WILD: Canada’s wildlife is navigating unprecedented challenges as migration corridors are disrupted by climate change and human activity. Find out how the Trebek Initiative collaborates with organizations like the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and Indigenous communities to spotlight innovative solutions to support safe animal migration.
COMPLETED PROJECT STORIES: Explore a preview of completed projects from Trebek Grantees - Ryan Eagleson (2022), who has unveiled the hidden depths of the Saguenay Fjord’s marine ecosystems, and Brian Timmer (2023), whose work reveals the dramatic decline—and potential revival—of kelp forests in the Salish Sea.
WHERE IS TREBEK ACTIVE: Trebek funds are balanced across our 5 Focus Areas, and we have seen a steady increase in the number and size of projects funded each year. Of the 39 projects awarded since 2021, 17 are Complete, and 22 are Active.
TREBEK 2025 APPLICATIONS CLOSED: The application window for 2025 Trebek Grantees has closed with 65 exceptional submissions. These proposals promise to advance our shared mission of discovery and conservation.
Final funding decisions will be announced in March 2025.
UPCOMING EVENTS: Don’t miss the chance to engage directly with National Geographic through a series of exciting events across Canada, offering unique opportunities to connect with explorers and discover the impactful work being done.
NEW TREBEK PROJECT FOR FALL/2024: We are thrilled to announce the funding of Sara Cannon’s project, Towards Social Justice and Sustainability in Canadian Salmon Fisheries. Sara’s application came through the National Geographic Level 1 process, exemplifying the collaboration between our organizations to elevate impactful storytelling initiatives.
TREBEK CONNECTS THE WILD
Across Canada’s vast landscapes, wildlife is on the move. Climate change, habitat fragmentation, and human development reshape migration patterns for species that rely on ancient corridors to thrive.
The Trebek Initiative collaborates with organizations like the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), Indigenous communities, and conservation groups to illuminate these changes and support innovative approaches to reconnect ecosystems.
By telling the stories of these collaborations, we illuminate the challenges and opportunities in preserving migratory pathways. From enabling wolves to traverse fragmented forests to documenting caribou recovery efforts - the Trebek Initiative amplifies the work of those implementing tangible solutions.
Through storytelling, we aim to inspire understanding and curiosity, bridging the gap between knowledge and action in safeguarding wildlife migration.
Kateri Monticone:
As species like lynx and moose face fragmented habitats, their survival depends on safe passages.
Kateri Monticone, in partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), is illuminating the importance of wildlife corridors in Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.
Through storytelling and data, her work highlights how reconnecting ecosystems allows species to adapt to climate change and explore new territories.
Why It Matters:
Wildlife corridors are lifelines for species navigating a changing world. Kateri’s project showcases collaborative efforts that are creating hope for the future.
Rhiannon Kirton:
The majestic cervids of Canada—moose, elk, and deer—are vital indicators of ecosystem health.
In Shuswap Nation Territory, Rhiannon Kirton uses camera traps and traditional ecological knowledge to share stories about shifts in migration patterns.
She uncovers insights that inform conservation efforts by bridging Indigenous wisdom with modern technology while honouring the land’s cultural legacy.
Why It Matters:
This project illuminates the challenges and resilience of cervids, encouraging broader conversations about how climate and habitat changes affect ecosystems.
Building Migration Solutions Through Collaboration:
The Trebek Initiative fosters collaboration among Indigenous communities, conservationists, and scientists to address disrupted animal migration patterns. We support projects that combine traditional knowledge with innovative solutions - helping to protect Canada's wildlife and inspiring others to act.
Comparing Historic and Current Cervid Populations
Wildlife Corridors — Reconnecting the Northeast
2022 Trebek Grantee
2021 Trebek Grantee
Isabelle Groc:
Shorebirds—Sentinels of the Mudflats
During migration, shorebirds, such as the Western Sandpiper, depend on fragile mudflat ecosystems. Isabelle Groc’s project weaves visuals and narratives to highlight how these birds rely on these critical habitats.
By showcasing their vulnerability to habitat loss and climate change, Groc brings attention to the intricate connections between these birds and the ecosystems they inhabit.
Why It Matters:
Shorebirds are indicators of ecosystem health. Isabelle's project illuminates their journeys, fostering a deeper appreciation for these birds' role in interconnected habitats.
2024 Trebek Grantee
This fall, the Trebek Initiative had a closed application process, reviewing only select proposals that aligned with our mission.
Among the exceptional submissions, we are thrilled to announce the funding of Sara Cannon’s project, Towards Social Justice and Sustainability in Canadian Salmon Fisheries. This will be Trebek’s 39th project funded since we began in 2021.
Sara’s application came through the National Geographic Level 1 process, exemplifying the collaboration between our organizations to elevate impactful storytelling and conservation initiatives.
NEW TREBEK PROJECT
2024 Trebek Explorer
Sara Cannon
Towards Social Justice and Sustainability in Canadian Salmon Fisheries
Awarded $27,123.70
Salmon are more than just fish—they're a lifeline for the Pacific Northwest, supporting cultures, ecosystems, and economies for generations. National Geographic Explorer Sara Cannon, a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Indigenous Fisheries at UBC, is launching an ambitious project to safeguard their future.
Sara's work, which runs through 2025, examines the Pacific Salmon Treaty, focusing on its impact on Sockeye and Chinook salmon. By partnering with the First Nations Fishery Council, she bridges Indigenous knowledge with ecological research to address salmon's challenges during their transboundary migrations.
As treaty renegotiations near in 2028 - Sara’s project findings will help inform decisions critical to preserving these iconic species.
Why It Matters:
Salmon embody resilience and connection, tying together ecosystems and communities. Sara’s project blends science and Indigenous perspectives, offering hope and insights to ensure salmon continue to thrive for generations to come.
Our Trebek Initiative completed project stories share discoveries that inspire curiosity and connect us to the natural world.
COMPLETED PROJECT STORIES
Ryan Eagleson
Unveiling the Secrets of the Saguenay Fjord
Awarded $14,349
Beneath the serene waters of the Saguenay Fjord lies an extraordinary world teeming with life, largely unseen and uncharted—until now.
With the support of the Trebek Initiative, Ryan Eagleson embarked on an ambitious underwater journey to explore the fjord’s cliffs and floor. Using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and drop cameras, his team documented species-rich ecosystems filled with vibrant corals, sponges, and anemones. One particularly exciting find? An anemone species that is potentially unknown to science.
Ryan’s work isn’t just about discovery; it’s about creating a deeper understanding of the hidden ecosystems that sustain biodiversity. These vivid underwater landscapes, captured in stunning visuals, are a testament to Canada’s ecological wealth and an urgent call to appreciate the intricacies of these fragile environments.
“Exploring the fjord was like stepping into an alien world—every corner revealed something unexpected and beautiful,” says Eagleson.
As this project moves into its next phase, Ryan’s findings are laying the groundwork for more robust scientific exploration and education.
2022 Trebek Explorer
The vibrant sun star, a keystone predator, thrives on the Saguenay Fjord floor. It maintains the balance of its unique ecosystem by preying on other echinoderms and regulating their populations.
Bright anemones and sponges cling to the walls of the Saguenay Fjord, filtering water and creating habitats that sustain the fjord’s diverse marine life.
A solitary pink anemone stands out against the sediment-covered floor of the Saguenay Fjord. Its quiet resilience is a small yet powerful indicator of the fjord’s ecological health.
Yellow-capped anemones sway gently in the fjord currents, their delicate movements masking their vital role in supporting aquatic food webs.
Pink and yellow anemones cling to the rugged walls of the Saguenay Fjord, thriving in its nutrient-rich waters. Their vibrant presence highlights the fjord’s role as a critical sanctuary for marine biodiversity.
The dramatic cliffs of the Saguenay Fjord rise steeply above the water, a testament to millennia of geological transformation—these unique formations shelter diverse marine and terrestrial life, creating a haven of interconnected ecosystems.
Clusters of vibrant anemones illuminate the Saguenay Fjord walls, showcasing the delicate balance of life in this fragile underwater world.
A rare glimpse of a pink-tipped anemone nestled in the sediment-rich floor of the Saguenay Fjord. These creatures provide habitat for other species and reflect the health of their ecosystem.
The Saguenay Fjord floor is adorned with a vibrant mosaic of marine life—sponges, anemones, and tunicates. Each organism contributes to a delicate balance, showcasing the interdependence of life in this underwater realm.
A minke whale breaks the surface of the Saguenay Fjord, a breathtaking reminder of the fjord’s importance as a migratory corridor.
2023 Trebek Explorer
Imagine a forest the size of Vancouver’s Stanley Park—only underwater. For decades, these sprawling bull kelp forests in the Salish Sea provided critical shelter for Pacific salmon and herring. But climate change has dealt a harsh blow, erasing 97% of these habitats over the past 50 years. Enter Trebek Grantee Brian Timmer, whose work is peeling back the layers of history to understand this dramatic loss.
Brian has revealed a sobering timeline of environmental change by comparing archival maps and photos with cutting-edge aerial imagery and SCUBA surveys. His findings are not just a window into the past—they fuel restoration efforts through initiatives like the Kelp Rescue Initiative, which aims to revive these vital ecosystems.
“This research gives us a historical baseline, a reference point to guide how we can bring these underwater forests back to life,” explains Timmer.
Through the stories of these underwater ecosystems, Brian is shedding light on how climate change impacts ripple through the web of life.
Brian Timmer
Tracking a Half-Century of Kelp Loss in the Salish Sea
Awarded $26,097
Sunlight filters through the canopy of a healthy bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) forest in the Salish Sea, BC, Canada. These underwater forests provide essential habitat for countless species, forming the backbone of nearshore ecosystems.
Brian Timmer holds freshly harvested bull kelp near Denman Island, BC. These floating specimens are remnants of healthier forests further north, carried by strong tidal currents—a hopeful sign for restoration projects ahead.
Golden-hour tranquillity at Denman Island's Lambert Channel. This serene shoreline has witnessed significant shifts in marine biodiversity as warming waters reshape the balance of life below the surface.
Brian Timmer and his team (Ray Stiles, Sophia Cross, and Kelly Klement) prepare for dive surveys off Denman Island, BC. These islets, submerged at high tide, reveal the changing nearshore habitats critical for understanding long-term ecological shifts in the Salish Sea.
A red urchin (Mesocentrotus franciscanus) test discovered during SCUBA surveys near Cape Lazo, BC, Canada. While urchins are a natural part of kelp ecosystems, they have been known to contribute to forest decline in some areas along the coast.
A northern kelp crab (Pugettia producta) perched on a wireweed branch in the Salish Sea, BC, Canada. These crabs play a role in the complex ecosystems of subtidal habitats surveyed by Brian Timmer and his team."
A shimmering school of juvenile Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) glides over the rocky seafloor near Comox, BC. These vital ecosystems once thrived beneath expansive bull kelp canopies, now a memory in the warming waters of the Salish Sea.
A rare view beneath the waves of one of the last remaining bull kelp forests in the Salish Sea. These underwater canopies shelter vital marine biodiversity, showcasing nature's resilience amidst warming waters.
Surveying a shifting underwater world: Brian Timmer documents subtidal vegetation in the Salish Sea, collecting data to compare habitat composition over five decades of environmental change.
A historical near-infrared photograph of the shoreline near Cape Lazo, BC, captured during aerial surveys in 1972. The bright red glow of vegetation reveals vibrant bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) forests along the shoreline that have since disappeared due to warming waters and ecological shifts in the Salish Sea.
Research Assistants conduct shoreline vegetation surveys in the Salish Sea, examining eelgrass (Zostera marina) habitats. These areas are critical for juvenile fish and biodiversity but are increasingly impacted by invasive species and warming waters.
This "Algal Vegetation Map," created by Dr. Alan Austin in 1972 using aerial and ground surveys, highlights the once-abundant red seaweed near Cape Lazo, BC, in the Salish Sea. Since then, 97% of this vital habitat has been lost.
WHERE IS TREBEK ACTIVE?
Select to see the 39 Trebek Initiative Projects across Canada.
UPCOMING EVENTS
January 26 - 27, 2025 - Calgary, AB
NG Live: Andrés Ruzo: Hunt for Sleeping Giants
Journey with geothermal scientist Andrés Ruzo to remote lava fields, hidden boiling rivers, and fiery portals to the Earth’s core. From the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, which froze an Italian town in time, to the enduring presence of volcanoes in our imaginations, this exploration uncovers the science and stories behind Earth’s most powerful forces.
February 12, 2025 - Vancouver, BC
NG Live: Doug Smith: Wild Wolves of Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park’s vast two million acres of wilderness hold a remarkable story of wildlife conservation. Led by biologist Doug Smith in the 1990s, the reintroduction of gray wolves transformed the park’s ecosystem.
Explore the behind-the-scenes efforts—featuring rare photos and footage—that restored balance to Yellowstone and sparked extraordinary ecological changes.
Feb 23 - 25, 2025 - Toronto, ON
NG Live: Erika Woolsey: Diving the Great Barrier Reef
Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef transforms into a vibrant spectacle every year as millions of coral polyps release their spawn, creating a snow globe effect beneath the waves. Yet, this awe-inspiring event masks a stark reality: over half the reef’s coral has succumbed to climate change and bleaching.
Join marine biologist Dr. Erika Woolsey as she unveils the bizarre and colourful species that call this underwater jungle home—and discover why there’s still so much worth saving.
Apr 2, 2025 - Vancouver, BC
NG Live: Jess Cramp: The Untold Story of Sharks
Sharks, ancient mariners predating the dinosaurs, have evolved into over 500 remarkable species. Yet, only now are we uncovering their secrets—and the human impact threatening their survival.
Join Dr. Jess Cramp as she dives into National Geographic archives to spotlight trailblazing women who pioneered shark science and storytelling. Then, follow her to the vibrant waters of the South Pacific for a firsthand look at her cutting-edge research and conservation efforts to secure a future for these ocean predators.
Apr 13 - 15, 2025 - Toronto, ON
NG Live: Heather Lynch: Penguins of Antarctica
Antarctica’s name alone conjures imagery of the harshest environment on Earth, but it is more than its monochromatic colour scheme of snow and ice.
Meet the many species of penguins that waddle and swim through the freezing water, along with an abundance of other life, on a journey south with quantitative ecologist Dr. Heather Lynch.
Apr 27 - 28, 2025 - Calgary, AB
NG Live: Doug Smith: Wild Wolves of Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park’s vast two million acres of wilderness hold a remarkable story of wildlife conservation. Led by biologist Doug Smith in the 1990s, the reintroduction of gray wolves transformed the park’s ecosystem.
Explore the behind-the-scenes efforts—featuring rare photos and footage—that restored balance to Yellowstone and sparked extraordinary ecological changes.
THANK YOU
Your commitment fuels our Trebek Grantees’ efforts to make a meaningful impact across Canada —whether they’re discovering solutions to our shared challenges, preserving Canada’s cultural treasures, or inspiring the next generation of scientists, storytellers, and educators.
Together, we’re igniting a passion to preserve across Canada and offering hope for a sustainable future for all.
