resources — R2R

The Leslie Street Spit has become a premier destination for migratory and waterbirds, and has been designated an Important Bird Area. The most attention-grabbing and well-researched member of the Spit’s bird community is the Double-crested Cormorant

Cormorant Research

Ontario's decision for the province-wide cull of double-crested cormorant

Hobson, 2021

Incorporation of anthropogenic debris into double-crested cormorant nests, Toronto, Ontario

Damian & Fraser, 2020

Living with double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus): A spatial approach for non-lethal management in Toronto, Canada

McDonald et al., 2018

Double-crested cormorants: Too much of a good thing?

Dorr & Fielder, 2017

Evidence for a Negative Effect of Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) on Invasive European Fire Ants (Myrmica rubra)

Gupta et al., 2017

The advertising display of double-crested cormorants varies with microhabitat and time of the season in a tree-nesting colony

Mc Rae et al., 2017

Analysis of double-crested cormorant nest spatial patterns in single and mixed-species colonies and their effect on cormorant behaviour and on blackcrowned night heron spatial patterns

Rosenberger, 2016

Knowing the double crested cormorant: Behavioural ecology and public education of double-crested cormorants at Tommy Thompson Park

Mc Rae, 2015

Migratory bird protection, a crack in the armor: The case of the double-crested cormorant

Wires, 2015

Double-crested cormorants during the chick-rearing period at a large colony in Southern Ontario: Analyses of chick diet, feeding rates and foraging directions

Andrews et al., 2012

Effects of egg oiling on ground-nesting double-crested cormorants at a colony in Lake Ontario: an examination of nest-attendance behaviour

Taylor & Fraser, 2012

Double-crested cormorants and urban wilderness: Conflicts and management

Taylor et al., 2011

Interactions between double-crested cormorants and herring gulls at a shared breeding site

Somers et al., 2007

Population trends and colony locations of double-crested cormorants in the Canadian Great Lakes and immediately adjacent areas, 1990–2000: A manager's guide

Weseloh et al., 2002

A geographic information system to monitor nest distributions of double-crested cormorants and black-crowned night-herons at shared colony sites

Jarvie et al., 1999

Within-season variation in nest numbers of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) on the Great Lakes: Implications for censusing

Ewins et al., 1995

Other Media

Wild Toronto: In the field - part 1 (canopy of cormorants)

Wild Toronto, 2014

The Leslie Street Spit is an Important Bird Area, providing essential habitat to a wide range of migratory and water birds.

Avian research

The breeding birds of Tommy Thompson Park

Alvo, et al., 2021

First record of least bittern nesting at Tommy Thompson Park in Toronto, Ontario

Dupuis-Désormeaux et al., 2017

Conservation implications of long-distance migration routes: Regional metapopulation structure, asymmetrical dispersal, and population declines

Szczys et al., 2017

Changes in heron and egret populations on the Laurentian Great Lakes and connecting channels, 1977-2009

Rush et al., 2015

Sex-biased resource allocation in ovo in a sexually size-dimorphic species

Chin et al., 2012

Colonial waterbird populations at the Leslie Street Spit/Tommy Thompson Park

McDonald, 2012

Distribution and abundance of nesting common and Caspian terns on the North American Great Lakes, 1976 to 1999

Morris et al., 2010

The Canadian migration monitoring network - ten-year report on monitoring landbird population change

Crewe et al., 2008

When orioles turn red

Derbyshire & Flinn, 2007

First nest records of canvasback in Ontario

Coady, 2000

Heermann's gull in Toronto: First for Ontario

Yukich, 2000

Management efforts for the conservation of common tern Sterna hirundo colonies in the Great Lakes: Two case histories

Morris et al., 1992

Comparisons of body reserve buildup and use in several groups of Canada geese

Mainguy & Thomas, 1985

Nesting rafts as a management tool for a declining common tern (Sterna hirundo) colony

Dunlop et al., 1991

The status of colonial waterbirds nesting at Hamilton Harbour, Lake Ontario, 1959-1987

Dobos et al., 1988

The influence of age on the breeding biology of ring-billed gulls

Haymes & Blokpoel, 1980

Colonization by gulls and terns of the Eastern Headland, Toronto Outer Harbour

Blokpoel & Fetterolf, 1978

Other media

The beauty of birding at the Leslie Street Spit

Marche, 2018

Wild Toronto: In the field - part 2 (haunt of the herons)

Wild Toronto, 2014

Birds of Ontario: habitat requirements, limiting factors and status

Sandilands, 2010

In addition to providing important terrestrial habitat, the shores, wetlands, and nearshore waters of the Leslie Street Spit are home to a range of fish and amphibian species.

Aquatic wildlife research

A snapshot of the distribution and demographics of freshwater turtles along Toronto's Lake Ontario coastal wetlands

Dupuis-Desormeaux, 2021

Comparison of approaches for modelling submerged aquatic vegetation in the Toronto and Region Area of Concern

Midwood et al., 2021

Wetland vegetation response to record-high Lake Ontario water levels

Smith et al., 2021

Fish community indices of ecosystem health: How does Toronto Harbour compare to other Lake Ontario nearshore areas?

Hoyle et al., 2018

Assessing occupancy of freshwater fishes in urban boat slips of Toronto Harbour

Veilleux et al., 2018

Use of fish telemetry in rehabilitation planning, management, and monitoring in areas of concern in the Laurentian Great Lakes

Brooks et al., 2017

Tracking bowfin with acoustic telemetry: Insight into the ecology of a living fossil

Midwood et al., 2017

Comparative thermal biology and depth distribution of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and northern pike (Esox lucius) in an urban harbour of the Laurentian Great Lakes

Peat et al., 2016

Characterisation of water temperature variability within a harbour connected to a large lake

Hlevca et al., 2015

Spatial ecology of fish in Toronto Harbour in response to aquatic habitat enhancement

Veilleux, 2014

The effects of cool and variable temperatures on the hatch date, growth and overwinter mortality of a warmwater fish in small coastal embayments of Lake Ontario

Murphy et al., 2012

Evidence of yellow perch, largemouth bass and pumpkinseed metapopulations in coastal embayments of Lake Ontario

Murphy et al., 2012

The effects of cool and variable temperatures on the hatch date, growth and overwinter mortality of a warmwater fish in small coastal embayments of Lake Ontario

Murphy et al., 2012

Determinants of temperature in small coastal embayments of Lake Ontario

Murphy et al., 2012

Thermal habitat characteristics for warmwater fishes in coastal embayments of Lake Ontario

Murphy et al., 2011

Marsh bird and amphibian communities in the Toronto and Region AOC, 1995 - 2002

Birds Canada, 2003

While less well-researched than the Leslie Street Spit’s avian inhabitants, several species of native and invasive terrestrial wildlife have important impacts on the local ecosystem.

Animal life

Coyotes and their movement in relation to resources in Tommy Thompson Park

Thompson, 2014

Insect life

The impact and spread of the European fire ant, Myrmica rubra (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in south-Central Ontario

Khan, 2018

The ecological and population genetic consequences of invasion by the European fire ant, Myrmica rubra, in Ontario

Dunphy, 2016

First record of Ixodes affinis tick (Acari: Ixodidae) infected with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato collected from a migratory songbird in Canada

Scott et al., 2016

Analyses of environmental factors for the persistence of Myrmica rubra (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in green spaces of the Greater Toronto Area and applications of ecological niche/species distribution models

Ito, 2014

Impact of attack by Gnorimoschema gallmakers on their ancestral and novel Solidago hosts

Heard & Kitts, 2012

Widespread dispersal of Borrelia burgdorferi–infected ticks collected from songbirds across Canada

Scott et al., 2012

Plant module size and attack by the goldenrod spindle-gall moth

Heard & Cox, 2009

Role of migratory birds in introduction and range expansion of Ixodes scapularis ticks and of Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Canada

Ogden et al., 2008

On the elusiveness of enemy-free space: spatial, temporal, and host-plant-related variation in parasitoid attack rates on three gallmakers of goldenrods

Heard et al., 2006

Spatial density dependence: Effects of scale, host spatial pattern and parasitoid reproductive strategy

Rothman & Darling, 1991

Viruses and microorganisms

Avian influenza virus H13 circulating in ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) in Southern Ontario, Canada

Velarde et al., 2010

Redescription of Paracuaria adunca (Creplin, 1846) (Nematoda: Acuarioidea) from Larus delawarensis Ord (Laridae)

Wong & Anderson, 1982

Other media

Invasive phragmites hurting bird population on Leslie St. Spit

Andrew-Gee, 2014

A who’s who of Toronto wildlife

Goffin, 2014

Butterflies, flowers and various wildlife found on Leslie Street Spit

Field, 2013

The history of the evolution of the Leslie Street Spit from landfill to vital waterfront greenspace and habitat has attracted interest from researchers as well as in popular media.

Research on the history of the Spit

Demolishing the city, constructing the shoreline

Creba & Hutton, 2021

Toronto's Ravines and Urban Forests: Their Natural Heritage and Local History

Ramsay-Brown, 2015

Landlocked: Politics, property, and the Toronto waterfront, 1960-2000

Eidelman, 2013

Urban explorations: Environmental histories of the Toronto region

Sandberg & Rawat, 2013

Buried localities: Archaeological exploration of a Toronto dump and wilderness refuge

Schopf & Foster, 2013

Other media

The big bet: The Toronto Harbour Commission, the Leslie Street Spit Airport and the birth of Toronto’s urban reform movement

Hopkins, 2016

How muck from the mouth of the Don River becomes new land for the Leslie Street Spit

Bateman, 2015

Toronto feature: Tommy Thompson Park

Bradburn, 2015

Improvements to Tommy Thompson Park open for bird watching season

Landau, 2013

Toronto's accidental treasure

Hume, 2008

As an important site of waterfront greenspace development, the planning of the Leslie Street Spit and Tommy Thompson Park have raised important issues of urban environmental planning.

Planning research

Post-industrial urban greenspace: An environmental justice perspective

Foster & Sandberg, 2016

The transformation of landfills to green spaces: Identifying the barriers and benefits in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)

Dixon, 2014

Post-industrial urban greenspace: Justice, quality of life and environmental aesthetics in rapidly changing urban environments

Foster & Sandberg, 2014

Reshaping Toronto's waterfront

Desfor & Laidley, 2011

Landscape as infrastructure

Belanger, 2009

Port authorities as urban land developers: The case of the Toronto Harbour Commissioners and their Outer Harbour project, 1912-68

Merrens, 1988

Beneficial uses of dredged material in the development of Toronto Harbour

Orchard, 1988

Other media

Carefully constructed wetland unveiled in Tommy Thompson Park

Winter, 2016

TRCA unveils options for keeping Ashbridges sand at bay

Hudson, 2014

Leslie Street Spit upgrades include new structures, shoreline improvements

Lavoie, 2012

A park for the future

Fife, 1990

Tommy Thompson Park

WaterfronToronto

Located on Toronto’s historically industrial waterfront, the Leslie Street Spit is an important site for research on soil and water pollution and its impacts on the local ecosystem.

Abiotic environmental research

Nutrient footprints on the Toronto-Mississauga waterfront of Lake Ontario

Howell & Benoit, 2021

Water circulation in Toronto Harbour

Hlevca et al., 2018

Monitoring water quality on the central Toronto waterfront: Perspectives on addressing spatiotemporal variability

Howell et al., 2018

Volatile methylsiloxanes and organophosphate esters in the eggs of European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and congeneric gull species from locations across Canada

Lu et al., 2017

Forty-year decline of organic contaminants in eggs of herring gulls (Larus argentatus) from the Great Lakes, 1974 to 2013

De Solla et al., 2016

Biochemical and transcriptomic effects of herring gull egg extracts from variably contaminated colonies of the Laurentian Great Lakes in chicken hepatocytes

Crump et al., 2015

Perfluoroalkyl acids in the Canadian environment: Multi-media assessment of current status and trends

Gewurtz et al., 2013

Contaminants in colonial waterbirds of the North American Great Lakes, 1955-2007

Weseloh, 2012

Distribution and potential significance of a gull fecal marker in urban coastal and riverine areas of southern Ontario, Canada

Lu et al., 2011

Reconcilable differences: The use of reference material to reduce methodological artifacts in the reporting of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls

De Solla et al., 2010

Impact of changes in analytical techniques for the measurement of polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides on temporal trends in herring gull eggs

De Solla et al., 2010

Declining contaminant levels in herring gull eggs from Toronto Harbour, Lake Ontario, 1974-1998

Weseloh & Pekarik, 1999

Bacteriological characterization of feces and source differentiation

Seyfried & Harris, 1990

As an important site for biodiversity in Toronto, the Leslie Street Spit has been a focus for research on urban wildlife conservation, human-wildlife cohabitation, and ecological restoration.

Conservation and restoration research

Common notions and composite collaborations: Thinking with Spinoza to design urban infrastructures for human and wild cohabitants