Research Interests
My passion for aquatic ecology is founded in the belief that effective stewardship of aquatic resources is of paramount and immediate concern, and that achieving a balance of environmental, economic, and social values is not possible until scientists are able to understand and successfully communicate effects of human-induced changes on lakes, rivers, and streams. My long-term research interests lie at the interface of freshwater ecology, fish ecology, and contaminant bioaccumulation, and my research program reflects my interest in elucidating complex ecological interactions with chemical tracers. I have conducted and continue to conduct research that is applicable to industry, regulatory agencies, and community stakeholders, and I place great value in developing positive collaborative relationships with other academics, government researchers, First Nations and Inuit communities, and industry.
Publications (last 6 years)
Swanson, H.K., K.A. Kidd, and J.D. Reist. 2011. Quantifying importance of marine prey for two partially anadromous fishes. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 68: 2020-2028.
St. Louis, V.L., A.E. Derocher, I. Stirling, J.A. Graydon, C. Lee, E. Joksch, E. Richardson, S. Ghordape, A.K. Kwan, J.L. Kirk, I. Lehnherr, and H.K. Swanson. 2011. Differences in mercury bioaccumulation amongst polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from the Canadian high and sub Arctic. Environmental Science & Technology 45: 5922-5928.
Swanson, Heidi K., Nikolaus Gantner, Karen Kidd, Derek Muir, and Jim Reist. 2011. Comparison of mercury concentrations in landlocked, resident, and sea-run fishes from Nunavut, Canada. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 30 (6): 1459-1467.
Swanson, Heidi K., Karen A. Kidd, John A. Babaluk, Rick J. Wastle, Panseok P. Yang, Norman M. Halden, and James D. Reist. 2010. Annual marine migrations in lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) from the central Canadian Arctic: insights from otolith microchemistry, stable isotope ratios, and comparisons to Arctic charr (S. alpinus). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 67: 842-853.
Swanson, Heidi K., Karen A. Kidd, and Jim D. Reist. 2010. Effects of partially anadromous Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) on ecology of Arctic lakes. Ecosystems 13: 261-274.
Swanson, Heidi K., and Karen A. Kidd. 2010. Species, life history, and the presence of anadromous Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) affect mercury concentrations in Arctic food fishes. Environmental Science &Technology 44: 3286-3292.
Swanson, H. K. and K.A. Kidd. 2009. A preliminary investigation on the effects of anadromous Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) on food web structure and nutrient transport in coastal Arctic lakes. Pages 465-483 In: A. J. Haro, K. L. Smith, R. A. Rulifson, et al., eds. Challenges for Diadromous Fishes in a Dynamic Global Environment, Symposium 69, June 2007, Bethesda, Maryland.
Swanson, Heidi K., Thomas A. Johnston, David W. Schindler, R. Andrew Bodaly, and D. Michael Whittle. 2006. Mercury bioaccumulation in forage fish communities invaded by rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax). Environmental Science &Technology 40: 1439-1446.