Nicholas Johnson is a Research Ecologist based in Millersburg, MI.
I study fisheries with a focus on invasive species control and native species restoration in the Great Lakes. My work links the experimental sciences of sensory ecology, physiology, and behavior with applied fish population dynamics and adaptive management to inform policy. I became a research ecologist with USGS, Great Lakes Science Center, Hammond Bay Biological Station in 2009, serve in adjunct appointments at several universities in Michigan, and am an assoicate editor of the Journal of Great Lakes Research. My research is mostly in collaboration with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission where I am a member of several Task Forces and Coordinator of the Supplemental Sea Lamprey Control Initative. Research brings me the most joy when done with students and when my neighbors in Northern Michigan understand why it matters.
Professional Experience
Acting Station Supervisor, USGS, Great Lakes Science Center, Hammond Bay Biological Station 03Jan11 to 12Sep11 and 18Jan2020 to 01Feb2021
Coordinator of Supplemental Sea Lamprey Control Initative, 2019- present
Advised or co-advised 15 graduate students/USGS interns
SCUBA Dive Team Member. USGS. 19Aug11 to present
Member of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission Sea Lamprey Trapping Task Force, 2012 – present
Cheboygan River Sea Lamprey Work Group member. 2012 to present
Member of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission Sea Lamprey Reduction in Reproduction Task Force, 2009-2012
Member of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission Sea Lamprey Assessment Task Force, 2009-2011
Member of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission Sea Lamprey Barrier Task Force, 2010-present
Education and Certifications
Ph. D., Michigan State University, Dec 2008
Dual degree in Fisheries and Wildlife and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior Program
M.S., Michigan State University, Dec 2005
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
B.S., summa cum laude, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, May 2004.
College of Natural Resources
Majors: Fisheries/Limnology and Biology
Science and Products
Science pages by this scientist
Survival and metamorphosis of Sea Lamprey in Lake Erie tributaries
Adult sea lamprey abundance in Lake Erie increased during the past decade, exceeding pre-control levels and causing extensive mortality on some strains of stocked lake trout (Markham 2015). Control agents speculate that this increase may be due to an uncontrolled larval sea lamprey population in the St. Clair River because other known sources of larval sea lampreys are regularly treated with...
Data releases by this scientist
Operation of an electrical barrier to block sea lamprey in the Black Mallard, Michigan, detailing stream temperature, conductivity, discharge, electric field intensity, and animals trapped and killed during 2016, 2017, and 2018
Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) control is achieved in tributaries to the Laurentian Great Lakes by applying lamprey-specific pesticides (lampricide) to habitats containing larval sea lamprey. Lampricide treatments are cheaper and more effective in watersheds where dams block runs of adult sea lamprey and hence limit the distribution of sea lamprey larvae. However, dams impound water and those wi
Behavior of female adult Pacific lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) exposed to natural and synthesized odors
We investigated the behavioral response of female Pacific lamprey to three odors and to differences in water flow. Adult lamprey were challenged with: 1) washings from conspecifics, 2) with washings from adult males, and 3) with an artificial odor that mimicked a component of a natural lamprey pheromone. In addition, we conducted parallel tests to check for rheotaxis. The fish were tested in two Y
Bile acid concentrations in tissues of American eel that were held at Northern Appalachian Research Laboratory, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, as derived from liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry
The American eel (Anguilla rostrata) is an imperiled fish hypothesized to use conspecific cues, in part, to coordinate long distance migration during their multi-stage life history. Here, tissues from multiple American eel life stages were collected and analyzed for the presence and concentration of bile acids. Specifically, samples were collected in the Northern Appalachian Research Laboratory du
Lethality of bloom forming cyanobacteria on zebra and quagga mussel veligers
Zebra and quagga mussel veligers were exposed to eleven distinct cultures (isolates) of cyanobacteria representing Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, Dolichospermum, Microcystis, and Planktothrix species and the cyanotoxin microcystin to determine the lethality of cyanobacteria on dreissenid veligers. Six-day laboratory bioassays were performed in microplates using dreissenid veligers collected from the Det
Cyanobacteria reduce quagga mussel spawning and fertilization success in laboratory bioassays
Laboratory bioassays were conducted at Wayne State University in cooperation with USGS to determine if different species of cyanobacteria influence quagga mussel spawning and fertilization success. The data describes the algal cultures tested and their density/concentration, the number of individuals tested, and the spawning and fertilization success of quagga mussels exposed to the cyanobacteria
Silver eel responses to live and dead silver eel odors at the U.S. Geological Survey Wellsboro Lab in 2015
This is a tabular data set that contains morphological and experimental data for a study testing if silver stage American eel respond to each other's odor. Inside a laboratory flume, downstream-swimming eels were exposed to both live (putative attractant) and dead (putative repellent) conspecific washings to determine whether their trajectory of downstream movement, level of activity, or time spen
Assessment of pulsed DC electric field to guide downstream migrating sea lamprey in experimental flume at USGS Conte Anadromous Fish Lab, Turners Falls, MA (December 2013)
This is a tabular data set that contains records of water velocity, depth, temperature and trial information such as start and stop times and date for experimental trials testing the effect of an electric field on the movement patterns and distribution of juvenile sea lamprey moving downstream in an experimental flume. Distribution is recorded for each individual lamprey as presence (1) or absence
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Publications by this scientist
Filter Total Items: 109
Synergistic behavioral antagonists of a sex pheromone reduce reproduction of invasive sea lamprey
Sex pheromones impart maximal attraction when their components are present at optimal ratios that confer balanced olfactory inputs in potential mates. Altering ratios or adding pheromone analogs to optimal mixtures may disrupt balanced olfactory antagonism and result in reduced attraction, however, tests in natural populations are lacking. We tested this hypothesis in sea lamprey (Petromyzon marin
Authors
Anne M. Scott, Nicholas S. Johnson, Michael J. Siefkes, Weiming Li
Evaluating the utility of effective breeding size estimates for monitoring sea lamprey spawning abundance
Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) is an invasive species that is a significant source of mortality for populations of valued fish species across the North American Great Lakes. Large annual control programs are needed to reduce the species' impacts; however, the number of successfully spawning adults cannot currently be accurately assessed. In this study, effective breeding size (Nb) and the minimu
Authors
Ellen M. Weise, Kim T Scribner, Olivia Boeberitz, Gale Bravener, Nicholas S. Johnson, John D Robinson
Invasive species control and management: The sea lamprey story
Control of invasive species is a critical component of conservation biology given the catastrophic damage that they can cause to the ecosystems they invade. This is particularly evident with sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Native to the Atlantic Ocean, the sea lamprey's ability to osmoregulate in fresh water, its wide thermal tolerance, generalist diet, and high fec
Authors
Michael P. Wilkie, Nicholas S. Johnson, Margaret F. Docker
Pedigree analysis and estimates of effective breeding size characterize sea lamprey reproductive biology
The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) is an invasive species in the Great Lakes and the focus of a large control and assessment program. Current assessment methods provide information on the census size of spawning adult sea lamprey in a small number of streams, but information characterizing reproductive success of spawning adults is rarely available. We used RAD-capture sequencing to genotype sin
Authors
Ellen M. Weise, Kim T. Scribner, Jean V. Adams, Olivia Boeberitz, Aaron K. Jubar, Gale Bravener, Nicholas S. Johnson, John D. Robinson
Behavior of female adult Pacific lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) exposed to natural and synthesized odors
Conservation and management of Pacific Lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus and other imperiled lamprey species could include the use of chemosensory cues to attract or repel migrating adults. For restoration programs, passage of adult lamprey at dams might be improved by using cues to help guide lamprey through fishway entrances. In contrast, odors might repel unwanted invasive Sea Lamprey Petromyzon
Authors
Mike Hayes, Mary L. Moser, Brian J. Burke, Aaron D. Jackson, Nicholas S. Johnson
A seasonal electric barrier blocks invasive adult sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) and reduces production of larvae
Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) control is achieved in the Laurentian Great Lakes by applying lamprey-specific pesticides (lampricides) to habitats containing larval sea lamprey. Lampricide treatments cost less and are more effective in watersheds where dams block adult sea lamprey migration and limit larval distribution relative to watersheds with no barriers to migration. However, dams impound
Authors
Nicholas S. Johnson, Brian Snow, Tyler Bruning, Aaron K. Jubar
An adaptive management implementation framework for evaluating supplemental sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) controls in the Laurentian Great Lakes
Invasive sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) populations in the Laurentian Great Lakes Basin have been suppressed for over 60 years primarily by migration barriers and lamprey-specific pesticides. Improving control outcomes by supplementing barriers and pesticides with additional control strategies has been a long-standing objective of managers and stakeholders, but progress towards this objective ha
Authors
Sean A. Lewandoski, Travis O. Brenden, Michael J. Siefkes, Nicholas S. Johnson
A review of sea lamprey dispersal and population structure in the Great Lakes and the implications for control
Understanding the population structure of invasive sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in the Great Lakes basin is essential for an effective control program. We review knowledge of lake connectivity, dispersal during the parasitic stage, and results from phenotypic, demographic, and genetic studies to evaluate how sea lamprey populations are structured. There is no evidence for contemporary movement
Authors
Margaret F. Docker, Gale Bravener, Colin J Garroway, Peter J. Hrodey, John B. Hume, Nicholas S. Johnson, Sean A. Lewandoski, Jessie L Ogden, Emily C Zollweg-Horan
Exploiting the physiology of lampreys to refine methods of control and conservation
Lampreys (order: Petromyzontiformes) represent one of two extant groups of jawless fishes, also called cyclostomes. Lampreys have a variety of unique features that distinguish them from other fishes. Here we review the physiological features of lampreys that have contributed to their evolutionary and ecological success. The term physiology is used broadly to also include traits involving multiple
Authors
Brittney B Borowiec, Margaret F. Docker, Nicholas S. Johnson, Mary L. Moser, Barbara Zielinski, Michael P. Wilkie
Foreword: Control and conservation of lampreys beyond 2020 - Proceedings from the 3rd Sea Lamprey International Symposium (SLIS III)
Introduction to the special issue on the 3rd Sea Lamprey International Symposium. The compiled papers in this special issue consist of a combination of syntheses requested in advance of the symposium and perspectives that emerged from the symposium break-out discussions. These written contributions address the symposium goals of updating our understanding of sea lamprey control and research on lam
Authors
Robert L. McLaughlin, Jean V. Adams, Pedro R. Almeida, Jessica Barber, Dale P. Burkett, Margaret F. Docker, Nicholas S. Johnson, Mary L. Moser, Andrew M. Muir, Michael J. Siefkes, Todd B. Steeves, Michael P. Wilkie
Gut microbiota associated with different sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) life stages
Sea lamprey (SL; Petromyzon marinus), one of the oldest living vertebrates, have a complex metamorphic life cycle. Following hatching, SL transition into a microphagous, sediment burrowing larval stage, and after 2–10+ years, the larvae undergo a dramatic metamorphosis, transforming into parasitic juveniles that feed on blood and bodily fluids of fishes; adult lamprey cease feeding, spawn, and die
Authors
Prince P Mathai, Muruleedhara Byappanahalli, Nicholas S. Johnson, Michael J. Sadowsky
Diel patterns of pheromone release by male sea lamprey
Costs to producing sexual signals can create selective pressures on males to invest signaling effort in particular contexts. When the benefits of signaling vary consistently across time, males can optimize signal investment to specific temporal contexts using biological rhythms. Sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus, have a semelparous life history, are primarily nocturnal, and rely on pheromone communi
Authors
Skye D. Fissette, Ugo Bussy, Belinda Huerta, Cory O. Brant, Ke Li, Nicholas S. Johnson, Weiming Li
Non-USGS Publications**
Johnson, N.S., Yun, S-S., Thompson, H.T., Brant, C.O., Li, W. 2009. A synthesized pheromone induces upstream movement in female sea lamprey and summons them into traps. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA 106: 1021-1026.
Johnson, N.S., Luehring, M.A., Siefkes, M.J., Li, W. 2006. Pheromone induced behavior and pheromone reception in ovulating female sea lampreys. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 26: 88-96.
Johnson, N.S., Siefkes M.J., Li, W. 2005. Capture of ovulating female sea lampreys in traps baited with spermiating male sea lampreys. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 25: 67-72.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
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Science pages by this scientist
Survival and metamorphosis of Sea Lamprey in Lake Erie tributaries
Adult sea lamprey abundance in Lake Erie increased during the past decade, exceeding pre-control levels and causing extensive mortality on some strains of stocked lake trout (Markham 2015). Control agents speculate that this increase may be due to an uncontrolled larval sea lamprey population in the St. Clair River because other known sources of larval sea lampreys are regularly treated with... - Data
Data releases by this scientist
Operation of an electrical barrier to block sea lamprey in the Black Mallard, Michigan, detailing stream temperature, conductivity, discharge, electric field intensity, and animals trapped and killed during 2016, 2017, and 2018
Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) control is achieved in tributaries to the Laurentian Great Lakes by applying lamprey-specific pesticides (lampricide) to habitats containing larval sea lamprey. Lampricide treatments are cheaper and more effective in watersheds where dams block runs of adult sea lamprey and hence limit the distribution of sea lamprey larvae. However, dams impound water and those wiBehavior of female adult Pacific lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) exposed to natural and synthesized odors
We investigated the behavioral response of female Pacific lamprey to three odors and to differences in water flow. Adult lamprey were challenged with: 1) washings from conspecifics, 2) with washings from adult males, and 3) with an artificial odor that mimicked a component of a natural lamprey pheromone. In addition, we conducted parallel tests to check for rheotaxis. The fish were tested in two YBile acid concentrations in tissues of American eel that were held at Northern Appalachian Research Laboratory, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, as derived from liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry
The American eel (Anguilla rostrata) is an imperiled fish hypothesized to use conspecific cues, in part, to coordinate long distance migration during their multi-stage life history. Here, tissues from multiple American eel life stages were collected and analyzed for the presence and concentration of bile acids. Specifically, samples were collected in the Northern Appalachian Research Laboratory duLethality of bloom forming cyanobacteria on zebra and quagga mussel veligers
Zebra and quagga mussel veligers were exposed to eleven distinct cultures (isolates) of cyanobacteria representing Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, Dolichospermum, Microcystis, and Planktothrix species and the cyanotoxin microcystin to determine the lethality of cyanobacteria on dreissenid veligers. Six-day laboratory bioassays were performed in microplates using dreissenid veligers collected from the DetCyanobacteria reduce quagga mussel spawning and fertilization success in laboratory bioassays
Laboratory bioassays were conducted at Wayne State University in cooperation with USGS to determine if different species of cyanobacteria influence quagga mussel spawning and fertilization success. The data describes the algal cultures tested and their density/concentration, the number of individuals tested, and the spawning and fertilization success of quagga mussels exposed to the cyanobacteriaSilver eel responses to live and dead silver eel odors at the U.S. Geological Survey Wellsboro Lab in 2015
This is a tabular data set that contains morphological and experimental data for a study testing if silver stage American eel respond to each other's odor. Inside a laboratory flume, downstream-swimming eels were exposed to both live (putative attractant) and dead (putative repellent) conspecific washings to determine whether their trajectory of downstream movement, level of activity, or time spenAssessment of pulsed DC electric field to guide downstream migrating sea lamprey in experimental flume at USGS Conte Anadromous Fish Lab, Turners Falls, MA (December 2013)
This is a tabular data set that contains records of water velocity, depth, temperature and trial information such as start and stop times and date for experimental trials testing the effect of an electric field on the movement patterns and distribution of juvenile sea lamprey moving downstream in an experimental flume. Distribution is recorded for each individual lamprey as presence (1) or absence - Multimedia
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Publications by this scientist
Filter Total Items: 109Synergistic behavioral antagonists of a sex pheromone reduce reproduction of invasive sea lamprey
Sex pheromones impart maximal attraction when their components are present at optimal ratios that confer balanced olfactory inputs in potential mates. Altering ratios or adding pheromone analogs to optimal mixtures may disrupt balanced olfactory antagonism and result in reduced attraction, however, tests in natural populations are lacking. We tested this hypothesis in sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinAuthorsAnne M. Scott, Nicholas S. Johnson, Michael J. Siefkes, Weiming LiEvaluating the utility of effective breeding size estimates for monitoring sea lamprey spawning abundance
Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) is an invasive species that is a significant source of mortality for populations of valued fish species across the North American Great Lakes. Large annual control programs are needed to reduce the species' impacts; however, the number of successfully spawning adults cannot currently be accurately assessed. In this study, effective breeding size (Nb) and the minimuAuthorsEllen M. Weise, Kim T Scribner, Olivia Boeberitz, Gale Bravener, Nicholas S. Johnson, John D RobinsonInvasive species control and management: The sea lamprey story
Control of invasive species is a critical component of conservation biology given the catastrophic damage that they can cause to the ecosystems they invade. This is particularly evident with sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Native to the Atlantic Ocean, the sea lamprey's ability to osmoregulate in fresh water, its wide thermal tolerance, generalist diet, and high fecAuthorsMichael P. Wilkie, Nicholas S. Johnson, Margaret F. DockerPedigree analysis and estimates of effective breeding size characterize sea lamprey reproductive biology
The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) is an invasive species in the Great Lakes and the focus of a large control and assessment program. Current assessment methods provide information on the census size of spawning adult sea lamprey in a small number of streams, but information characterizing reproductive success of spawning adults is rarely available. We used RAD-capture sequencing to genotype sinAuthorsEllen M. Weise, Kim T. Scribner, Jean V. Adams, Olivia Boeberitz, Aaron K. Jubar, Gale Bravener, Nicholas S. Johnson, John D. RobinsonBehavior of female adult Pacific lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) exposed to natural and synthesized odors
Conservation and management of Pacific Lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus and other imperiled lamprey species could include the use of chemosensory cues to attract or repel migrating adults. For restoration programs, passage of adult lamprey at dams might be improved by using cues to help guide lamprey through fishway entrances. In contrast, odors might repel unwanted invasive Sea Lamprey PetromyzonAuthorsMike Hayes, Mary L. Moser, Brian J. Burke, Aaron D. Jackson, Nicholas S. JohnsonA seasonal electric barrier blocks invasive adult sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) and reduces production of larvae
Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) control is achieved in the Laurentian Great Lakes by applying lamprey-specific pesticides (lampricides) to habitats containing larval sea lamprey. Lampricide treatments cost less and are more effective in watersheds where dams block adult sea lamprey migration and limit larval distribution relative to watersheds with no barriers to migration. However, dams impoundAuthorsNicholas S. Johnson, Brian Snow, Tyler Bruning, Aaron K. JubarAn adaptive management implementation framework for evaluating supplemental sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) controls in the Laurentian Great Lakes
Invasive sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) populations in the Laurentian Great Lakes Basin have been suppressed for over 60 years primarily by migration barriers and lamprey-specific pesticides. Improving control outcomes by supplementing barriers and pesticides with additional control strategies has been a long-standing objective of managers and stakeholders, but progress towards this objective haAuthorsSean A. Lewandoski, Travis O. Brenden, Michael J. Siefkes, Nicholas S. JohnsonA review of sea lamprey dispersal and population structure in the Great Lakes and the implications for control
Understanding the population structure of invasive sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in the Great Lakes basin is essential for an effective control program. We review knowledge of lake connectivity, dispersal during the parasitic stage, and results from phenotypic, demographic, and genetic studies to evaluate how sea lamprey populations are structured. There is no evidence for contemporary movementAuthorsMargaret F. Docker, Gale Bravener, Colin J Garroway, Peter J. Hrodey, John B. Hume, Nicholas S. Johnson, Sean A. Lewandoski, Jessie L Ogden, Emily C Zollweg-HoranExploiting the physiology of lampreys to refine methods of control and conservation
Lampreys (order: Petromyzontiformes) represent one of two extant groups of jawless fishes, also called cyclostomes. Lampreys have a variety of unique features that distinguish them from other fishes. Here we review the physiological features of lampreys that have contributed to their evolutionary and ecological success. The term physiology is used broadly to also include traits involving multipleAuthorsBrittney B Borowiec, Margaret F. Docker, Nicholas S. Johnson, Mary L. Moser, Barbara Zielinski, Michael P. WilkieForeword: Control and conservation of lampreys beyond 2020 - Proceedings from the 3rd Sea Lamprey International Symposium (SLIS III)
Introduction to the special issue on the 3rd Sea Lamprey International Symposium. The compiled papers in this special issue consist of a combination of syntheses requested in advance of the symposium and perspectives that emerged from the symposium break-out discussions. These written contributions address the symposium goals of updating our understanding of sea lamprey control and research on lamAuthorsRobert L. McLaughlin, Jean V. Adams, Pedro R. Almeida, Jessica Barber, Dale P. Burkett, Margaret F. Docker, Nicholas S. Johnson, Mary L. Moser, Andrew M. Muir, Michael J. Siefkes, Todd B. Steeves, Michael P. WilkieGut microbiota associated with different sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) life stages
Sea lamprey (SL; Petromyzon marinus), one of the oldest living vertebrates, have a complex metamorphic life cycle. Following hatching, SL transition into a microphagous, sediment burrowing larval stage, and after 2–10+ years, the larvae undergo a dramatic metamorphosis, transforming into parasitic juveniles that feed on blood and bodily fluids of fishes; adult lamprey cease feeding, spawn, and dieAuthorsPrince P Mathai, Muruleedhara Byappanahalli, Nicholas S. Johnson, Michael J. SadowskyDiel patterns of pheromone release by male sea lamprey
Costs to producing sexual signals can create selective pressures on males to invest signaling effort in particular contexts. When the benefits of signaling vary consistently across time, males can optimize signal investment to specific temporal contexts using biological rhythms. Sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus, have a semelparous life history, are primarily nocturnal, and rely on pheromone communiAuthorsSkye D. Fissette, Ugo Bussy, Belinda Huerta, Cory O. Brant, Ke Li, Nicholas S. Johnson, Weiming LiNon-USGS Publications**
Johnson, N.S., Yun, S-S., Thompson, H.T., Brant, C.O., Li, W. 2009. A synthesized pheromone induces upstream movement in female sea lamprey and summons them into traps. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA 106: 1021-1026.Johnson, N.S., Luehring, M.A., Siefkes, M.J., Li, W. 2006. Pheromone induced behavior and pheromone reception in ovulating female sea lampreys. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 26: 88-96.Johnson, N.S., Siefkes M.J., Li, W. 2005. Capture of ovulating female sea lampreys in traps baited with spermiating male sea lampreys. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 25: 67-72.**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
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