Dr. Jonathan D. Midwood
Research within my group is applied in nature and designed to support managers within Fisheries and Oceans Canada, as well as the recovery of Great Lakes Areas of Concern. Towards these efforts, my research group uses tools such as acoustic telemetry to better understand the core ecology of freshwater fishes, including their seasonal home range, residency, movements and habitat use. Increasingly we are also using this technology to explore the ecology of non-native fishes (e.g., Goldfish) and species at risk (e.g., American eel), as well as to help refine field sampling protocols to target specific species based on temporal changes in their depth and spatial distribution. Understanding the habitat fish use throughout their life cycle is critical for protecting and remediating fish populations. Mapping and modelling the physical components of this habitat (e.g., submerged aquatic vegetation) and understanding how it may change under future climate change scenarios (e.g., response of aquatic vegetation to changing water levels) or following the establishment of non-native aquatic vegetation (e.g., Phragmites australis and Nitellopsis obtusa) are also areas of interest for my research group.
Current research and/or projects
Great Lakes Area of Concern (Toronto and Region AOC and Hamilton Harbour AOC)
Remote sensing to support FFHPP
Developing a submerged aquatic vegetation modelling tool for FFHPP
Great Lakes acoustic telemetry
Education and awards
B.Sc. (Hons) Biology, McMaster University (2007)
Ph.D. Biology, McMaster University (2012)
Key publications
REFEREED PUBLICATIONS
In Press
Walton-Rabideau, S.E., Lédée, E.J.I., Leblanc, J.P., Szekeres, P., Midwood, J.D., Gallagher, A.J., Farrell, J.M., & Cooke, S.J. Spatial ecology of juvenile Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) and Northern Pike (Esox Lucius) in upper St. Lawrence River nursery bays over fall and winter seasons. (In revision for Ecology of Freshwater Fish).
2019
McCallum, E.S., Nikel, K., Mehdi, H., Du, S., Bowman, J., Midwood, J.D., Kidd, K., Scott, G., Balshine, S. Municipal wastewater effluent affects fish communities: a multi-year study involving two wastewater treatment plants. Environmental Pollution 252:1730-1741.
Reid, C., Vandergoot, C., Trushenski, J., Midwood, J.D., Bowker, J., & Cooke, S.J. On the electroimmobilization of fishes for research and practice: opportunities, challenges, and research needs. Fisheries 44(12):576-585.
Zolderdo, A.J., Abrams, A.E.I., Reid, C., Suski, C.D., Midwood, J.D., & Cooke, S.J. Evidence of fish spillover from freshwater protected areas in lakes of eastern Ontario. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 29(7):1106-1122.
Brooks, J.L., Midwood, J.D., Gutowsky, L.F.G., Boston, C., Doka, S.E., Hoyle, J.A., & Cooke, S.J. Spatial ecology of reintroduced walleye (Sander vitreus) in Hamilton Harbour of Lake Ontario. Journal of Great Lakes Research 45(1):167-175.
2018
Midwood, J.D., Reddick, D., Brooks, J., Boston, C., Doka, S.E., & Cooke, S.J. Intracoelomic implantation of transmitters in Longnose gar Lepisosteus osseus Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 147(4):704-710. DOI:10.1002/tafs.10044
(40) Jain-Schlaepfer, S., Midwood, J.D., Larsen, M., Aarestrup, K., King, G., Suski, C. & Cooke, S.J.. Relationship of baseline and maximum glucocorticoid concentrations to migration propensity – a field test with wild sub-adult brown trout (Salmo trutta). Canadian Journal of Zoology 96(12):1346-1352.
Veilleux, M.A.N., Midwood, J.D., Boston, C., Lapointe, N.W.R., Portiss, R., Wells, M., Doka, S.E., & Cooke, S.J. Assessing occupancy of freshwater fishes in urban boat slips of Toronto Harbour. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management. 21(3):331-341
Doka, S.E., Munawar, M., Midwood, J.D., & Wells, M.G. State of Toronto and Region ecosystem: synthesis and highlights. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management. 21(3):362-367.
Silva, A.T., Midwood, J.D., Aarestrup, K., Pottinger, T.G., Madsen, S.S., & Cooke, S.J. The influence of sex, parasitism, and ontogeny on the physiological response of European eels (Anguilla Anguilla) to an abiotic stressor. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 91(4): 976-986.
Abrams, A. E. I., A. M. Rous, J. L. Brooks, M. J. Lawrence, S. E. Doka, J. D. Midwood, and S. J. Cooke. Comparing immobilization, recovery, and stress indicators associated with electric fish handling gloves and a portable electrosedation system. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 147(39):390-399.
Midwood, J.D., Gutowsky, L.F.G., Hlveca, B., Portiss, R., Doka, S., Wells, M.G., & Cooke, S.J. Bowfin (Amia calva) acoustic telemetry: insight into the ecology of a living fossil. Ecology of Freshwater Fish. 27: 225-236.
2017
Brooks, J.L., Doka, S.E., Gorsky, D., Gustavson, K., Hondorp, D., Iserman, D., Midwood, J.D., Pratt, T., Rous, A., Withers, J., Krueger, C.C., & Cooke, S.J. Use of fish telemetry in rehabilitation planning, management, and monitoring of Areas of Concern in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 60(6): 1139-1154.
Croft-White, M.V., Cvetkovic, M., Midwood, J.D., Rokitnicki-Wojcik, D. & Grabas, G.P. A shoreline divided: twelve-year water quality and land cover trends in Lake Ontario coastal wetlands. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 43(6): 1005-1015.
Jung, J., Rokitnicki-Wojcik, D., & Midwood, J.D., Characterizing past and modelling future spread of Phragmites australis ssp. australis at Long Point Peninsula, Ontario, Canada. Wetlands. 37(5): 961-973.
Bliss, S.M., Lennox, R.J., Midwood, J.D., & Cooke, S.J. Temporally stable and distinct fish assemblages between stream and earthen stormwater drain reaches in an urban watershed. Urban Ecosystems. 20(5): 1045-1055.
Peiman, K., Bernie-Gauvin, K. Midwood, J.D., Larsen, M.H., Wilson, A.D.M., Aarestrup, K, & Cooke, S.J. If and when: Intrinsic differences and environmental stressors influence migration in brown trout (Salmo trutta). Oecologia. 184(2): 375-384.
Midwood, J.D., Peiman, K., Burt, A.E.W., Sarker, M.Y., Nannini, M.A., Wahl, D.H., & Cooke, S.J. Size-dependent consequences of exogenous cortisol manipulation on overwinter survival and condition of Largemouth Bass. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics, and Physiology. DOI: 10.1002/jez.2064
2016
Midwood, J.D., Larsen, M.H., Aarestrup, K. & Cooke, S.J. Stress and food deprivation: linking physiological state to migration success in a teleost fish. Journal of Experimental Biology. 219(23): 3712-3718.
Midwood, J.D., Darwin, A., Ho, Z., Rokitnicki-Wojcik, D., & Grabas, G. Environmental factors associated with the distribution of non-native starry stonewort (Nitellopsis obtusa) in a Lake Ontario coastal wetland. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 42:348-355.
Rous, A.M., Midwood, J.D., Gutowsky, L.F.G., Lapointe, N.W.R., Portiss, R., Sciscione, T., Wells, M.G., Doka, S.E., & Cooke, S.J. Telemetry-determined habitat use informs multi-species habitat management in an urban harbour. Environmental Management. 59: 118-128.
Peat, T., Gutowsky, L., Doka, S., Midwood, J.D., Lapointe, N.W.R., Hlevca, B., Wells, M., Portiss, R., & Cooke, S.J. Comparative thermal biology and depth distribution of largemouth bass and northern pike in an urban harbour of the Laurentian Great Lakes. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 94(11): 767-776.
Pullen, C.E., Hayes, K., O’Connor, C.M., Arlinghaus, R., Suski, C.D., Midwood, J.D., & Cooke, S.J. Consequences of oral lure retention on the physiology and behaviour of adult northern pike (Esox lucius L.). Fisheries Research. 186: 601-611.
King, G.D., Chapman, J.M., Midwood, J.D., Cooke, S.J., & Suski, C.D., Watershed-scale land use activities influence the physiological condition of stream fish. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology. 89(1): 10-25.
Pankhurst, K., Midwood, J.D., Wachelka, H., & Cooke, S.J. Comparative spatial ecology of adult muskellunge and northern pike in an urban reach of the Rideau River, Canada. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 99: 409-421.
Midwood, J.D., Chapman, J.M., Cvetkovic, M., King, G.D., Ward, T.D., Cooke, S.J., & Suski, C.D. Diel variability in fish assemblage in coastal wetlands and tributaries of the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern: A cautionary tale for fisheries monitoring. Aquatic Science. 78(2): 267-277.
Crawford, C., Midwood, J.D., Lennox, R., Bliss, S., Belanger, C., & Cooke, S.J. Experimental displacement of longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae) reveals rapid fish avoidance of a stormwater drain in an urban watershed. Hydrobiology. 767(2):197-206.
2015
Midwood, J.D., Larsen, M.H., Boel, M., Aarestrup, K., & Cooke, S.J. Winter carryover effects in semi-anadromous brown trout (Salmo trutta). Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A 323:645-654.
Hlevca, B., Cooke, S.J., Midwood, J.D., Doka, S.E., Portiss, R.J., Wells, M.G. Characterization of water temperature variability within a harbour connected to a large lake. Journal of Great Lakes Research 41(4):1010-1023.
Sopinka, N., Patterson, L., Redfern, J., Pleizier, N., Belanger, C., Midwood, J.D., Crossin, G.T., & Cooke, S.J. Manipulating glucocorticoids in wild animals: basic and applied perspectives. Conservation Physiology. Vol. 3 10.1093/conphys/cov031.
Midwood, J.D., Kerr, S.J., Levick, P., Cooke, S.J. Conference Report: Muskellunge Science and Management: Progress Through Partnerships. Environmental Biology of Fishes 98:2031-2035.
Belanger, C.B., Vera-Chang, M.N., Moon, T.W., Midwood, J.D., Suski, C.D., & Cooke, S.J. Seasonal variation in baseline and maximum whole-body glucocorticoid concentrations in a small-bodied stream fish independent of habitat quality. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology: Part A Molecular and Integrative Physiology 192:1-6.
Larsen, M.H., Johnsson, J.I., Winberg, S., Wilson, A.D.M., Hammenstig, D., Thörnqvist, P., Midwood, J.D., Aarestrup, K., & Höglund, E. Effects of emergence time and early social rearing environment on behaviour of Atlantic salmon: consequences for juvenile fitness and smolt migration. PLoS One. 10:e0119127.
Midwood, J.D., Cairns, N.A., Stoot, L.J., Cooke, S.J., & Blouin-Demers, G. Bycatch mortality can cause extirpation in four freshwater turtle species. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 25:71-80.
Midwood, J.D., & Chow-Fraser, P. Connecting coastal marshes using movements of resident and migratory fishes 35:69-79.
Bliss, S.M., Midwood, J.D., Stamplecoskie, K., & Cooke, S.J. Seasonal movement of small-bodied fishes in a north temperate urban watershed demonstrates connectivity between a stream and stormwater drain. Hydrobiologia 742:327-338.
2014
Jepsen, N., Boutrup, T.S., Midwood, J.D., & Koed, A. Fish surgery – A dirty business? Comments to a letter submitted by D. Mulcahy and C.A. Harms. Fisheries Research 156:6-8.
Midwood, J.D., Cousineau, A., Stamplecoskie, K., King, G., Suski, C.D. & Cooke, S.J. Diel patterns of baseline glucocorticoids and stress responsiveness in a teleost fish. Canadian Journal of Zoology 92:417-421
Brownscombe, J.W., Bower, S., Bowden, W., Nowell, L., Midwood, J.D., Johnson, N., & Cooke, S.J. Canadian recreational fisheries: 35 years of biological, social, and economic dynamics from a national survey. Fisheries 39:251-260
Muhametsafina, A., Midwood, J.D., Bliss, S., Stamplecoskie, K. & Cooke S.J. The fate of dead fish tagged with telemetry transmitters in an urban stream. Aquatic Ecology 48:23-33
Midwood, J.D., Larsen, M.H., Boel, M., Jepsen, N., Aarestrup, K., & Cooke, S.J. Does cortisol manipulation influence outmigration behaviour, survival and growth of sea trout? A field-test of carryover effects in wild fish. Marine Ecological Progress Series 496:135-144
2013
Jepsen, N., Boutrup, T.S., Midwood, J.D., & Koed, A. Does the level of asepsis impact the success of surgically implanting tags in Atlantic salmon? Fisheries Research 147:344-348
Cooke, S.J., Midwood, J.D., Thiem, J.D., Kimley, P., Lucas, M.C., Thorstad, E.B., Eiler, J., Holbrook, C., & Ebner, B.C. Tracking animals in freshwater with electronic tags: past, present and future. Journal of Animal Biotelemetry 1:1-19.
2012
Midwood, J.D., Rokitnicki-Wojcik, D., & Chow-Fraser, P. Development of an inventory of coastal wetlands for eastern Georgian Bay, Lake Huron. ISRN Ecology vol. 2012, Article ID 950173, 13 pages.
Midwood, J.D., & Chow-Fraser, P. Changes in aquatic vegetation and fish communities following five years of sustained low water levels in coastal marshes of eastern Georgian Bay, Lake Huron. Global Change Biology 18:93-105.
2010
Midwood, J.D. & Chow-Fraser, P. Mapping floating and emergent aquatic vegetation in coastal wetlands of eastern Georgian Bay, Lake Huron, Canada. Wetlands 30:1141-1152.