James H Johnson, PhD
James Johnson is a Scientist Emeritus based in Cortland, NY.
My professional interests span both fisheries management and research which I attribute to a career spent working in both areas. On the management side, I especially enjoy working with Native American Tribes in helping them develop their fisheries programs. From a research perspective, I am particularly interested in the restoration of native fishes.
My interest in fisheries traces back to my early years spent on the St. Lawrence River with my great grandfather who fished commercially for lake sturgeon and other species near Ogdensburg, NY. I remember spending hours at a time in his live fish enclosure where he kept his catch, most likely annoying the heck out of the 4 – 6 ft sturgeon I was chasing around while American eels slithered around my legs. This was of course pre-Seaway, and now both of these species have greatly declined in the river and throughout much of their native range. I have been fortunate to be able to work on the restoration of both lake sturgeon and American eel, as well as other St. Lawrence River species as a member of the Fish Advisory Committee that oversees the fish mitigation funds for the upper river that came about from the FERC re-licensing process for the operation of the main stem dam at Massena, NY. My other interest in native fish restoration involves salmonids and heralds back to the decade I spent in the Pacific Northwest with the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho and the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife knee deep in issues associated to the restoration of Pacific salmon and steelhead. My tour with the Nez Perce also began what has become over three decades of work with tribes, spanning coast – to – coast, helping them develop their fisheries programs.
Professional Experience
January 1998-Present – Eastern Great Lakes Branch Chief, USGS-Cortland, NY
July 1994-December 1997 – Laboratory Director, Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic Science, USGS-Cortland, NY
September 1989-July 1994 – Fish Ecology Section Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wellsboro, PA
July 1984-September 1989 – Freshwater Program Manager, Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Portland, OR
June 1980-July 1984 – Director, Fisheries Dept., Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho, Lapwai, ID
February 1978-May1980 – Senior Aquatic Ecologist, New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY
September 1973-June 1976 – Fish Biologist, Lake Ontario Environmental Laboratory, Oswego, NY
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. (Fisheries Science) SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, 1993
M.S. (Fisheries Science) SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, 1978
B.S. (Fisheries Management) University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, 1973
Science and Products
Publications by this scientist
Seasonal habitat use of brook trout and juvenile steelhead in a Lake Ontario tributary
Mark retention of calcein in Cisco and Bloater
Diel feeding ecology of Slimy Sculpin in a tributary to Skaneateles Lake, New York
Reintroduction of Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) into the St. Regis River, NY: Post-release assessment of habitat use and growth
Seasonal variation in habitat use of juvenile Steelhead in a tributary of Lake Ontario
Effect of stocking sub-yearling Atlantic salmon on the habitat use of sub-yearling rainbow trout
Dam removal, connectivity, and aquatic resources in the St. Regis River Watershed, New York
Little Galloo Island, Lake Ontario: Two decades of studies on the diet, fish consumption, and management of double-crested cormorants
Summer diel diet and feeding periodicity of four species of cyprinids in the Salmon River, New York
From yellow perch to round goby: A review of double-crested cormorant diet and fish consumption at three St. Lawrence River colonies, 1999–2013
Diel resource partitioning among juvenile Atlantic Salmon, Brown Trout, and Rainbow Trout during summer
Interspecific habitat associations of juvenile salmonids in Lake Ontario tributaries: implications for Atlantic salmon restoration
Non-USGS Publications**
**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.
Data releases by this scientist
Science and Products
- Publications
Publications by this scientist
Filter Total Items: 85Seasonal habitat use of brook trout and juvenile steelhead in a Lake Ontario tributary
Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) are generally restricted to headwaters in New York tributaries of Lake Ontario. In only a few streams are brook trout abundant in lower stream reaches that are accessible to adult Pacific salmonids migrating from the lake. Consequently, because of the rarity of native brook trout populations in these lower stream reaches it is important to understand how they usAuthorsJames H. Johnson, Ross Abbett, Marc A. Chalupnicki, Francis VerdolivaMark retention of calcein in Cisco and Bloater
Since 2012, a multi-agency initiative to restore these native forage species has been under way. Evaluating the restoration success of Cisco Coregonus artedi and Bloater C. hoyi in Lake Ontario waters requires methods to identify stocked fish. However, juvenile Cisco and Bloater are fragile; thus, mass marking techniques that reduce the handling of individual fish are required and have not previouAuthorsMarc A. Chalupnicki, Gregg Mackey, Kendra Nash, Richard Chiavelli, James H. Johnson, Thomas Kehler, Neil H. RinglerDiel feeding ecology of Slimy Sculpin in a tributary to Skaneateles Lake, New York
Interactions among the benthic community are typically overlooked but play an important role in fish community dynamics. We examined the diel feeding ecology of Slimy Sculpin (Cottus cognatus) from Grout Brook, a tributary to Skaneateles Lake. Of the six time periods examined, Slimy Sculpin consumed the least during the nighttime (2400 h and 0400 h). Chironomids were the major prey consumed duringAuthorsMarc A. Chalupnicki, James H. JohnsonReintroduction of Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) into the St. Regis River, NY: Post-release assessment of habitat use and growth
One of the depleted endemic fish species of the Great Lakes, Acipenser fulvescens (Lake Sturgeon), has been the target of extensive conservation efforts. One strategy is reintroduction into historically productive waters. The St. Regis River, NY, represents one such adaptive-management effort, with shared management between New York and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe. Between 1998 and 2004, a total ofAuthorsDawn E. Dittman, Marc A. Chalupnicki, James H. Johnson, James SnyderSeasonal variation in habitat use of juvenile Steelhead in a tributary of Lake Ontario
We examined seasonal-habitat use by subyearling and yearling Oncorhynchus mykiss (Rainbow Trout or Steelhead) in Trout Brook, a tributary of the Salmon River, NY. We determined daytime fish-habitat use and available habitat during August and October of the same year and observed differences in habitat selection among year classes. Water depth and cover played the greatest role in Steelhead habitatAuthorsEmily W. Studdert, James H. JohnsonEffect of stocking sub-yearling Atlantic salmon on the habitat use of sub-yearling rainbow trout
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) restoration in the Lake Ontario watershed may depend on the species' ability to compete with naturalized non-native salmonids, including rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in Lake Ontario tributaries. This study examined interspecific habitat associations between sub-yearling Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout as well as the effect of salmon stocking on trout habitatAuthorsJames H. JohnsonDam removal, connectivity, and aquatic resources in the St. Regis River Watershed, New York
The decommissioning and planned removal of the Hogansburg Dam on the St. Regis River in New York has stimulated interest in the potential effects of that barrier removal on the St. Regis watershed. There will be immediate and systemic effects of the Hogansburg Dam removal, which may include inundation of habitats below the dam or dewatering of habitats above the dam, possibly affecting local fishAuthorsJames E. McKenna, Kaitlin Hanak, Katharine DeVilbiss, Anthony David, James H. JohnsonLittle Galloo Island, Lake Ontario: Two decades of studies on the diet, fish consumption, and management of double-crested cormorants
The double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) colony at Little Galloo Island, Lake Ontario has been a Great Lakes focal point of controversy regarding cormorant–fish interactions for over two decades. We examined cormorant diet and fish consumption at the colony from 1992 to 2013. During this time period, two events, management actions and round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) invasion, occurAuthorsJames H. Johnson, Russell D. McCullough, James F. Farquhar, Irene MazzocchiSummer diel diet and feeding periodicity of four species of cyprinids in the Salmon River, New York
The diel diet composition and feeding periodicity of Luxilus cornutus (common shiner), Exoglossum maxillingua (cutlip minnow), Semotilus corporalis (fallfish), and Notropis hudsonius (spottail shiner) were examined in the Salmon River, New York over a 24 h period during the summer. Chironomids were the major prey of common shiner (60.6%) and cutlip minnow (54.7%), whereas terrestrial invertebratesAuthorsJames H. JohnsonFrom yellow perch to round goby: A review of double-crested cormorant diet and fish consumption at three St. Lawrence River colonies, 1999–2013
The number of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) in the upper St. Lawrence River has increased markedly since the early 1990s. In 1999, a binational study was initiated to examine the annual diet composition and fish consumption of cormorants at colonies in the upper river. Since 1999, 14,032 cormorant pellets, collected from May through September each year, have been examined fromAuthorsJames H. Johnson, James F. Farquhar, Rodger M Klindt, Irene Mazzocchi, Alastair MathersDiel resource partitioning among juvenile Atlantic Salmon, Brown Trout, and Rainbow Trout during summer
Interspecific partitioning of food and habitat resources has been widely studied in stream salmonids. Most studies have examined resource partitioning between two native species or between a native species and one that has been introduced. In this study we examine the diel feeding ecology and habitat use of three species of juvenile salmonids (i.e., Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar, Brown Trout Salmo tAuthorsJames H. Johnson, James E. McKennaInterspecific habitat associations of juvenile salmonids in Lake Ontario tributaries: implications for Atlantic salmon restoration
Diel variation in habitat use of subyearling Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), subyearling coho salmon (O. kisutch), yearling steelhead (O. mykiss), and yearling Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) was examined during the spring in two tributaries of Lake Ontario. A total of 1318 habitat observations were made on juvenile salmonids including 367 on steelhead, 351 on Chinook salmon, 333 on AtlanAuthorsJames H. Johnson, Marc A. ChalupnickiNon-USGS Publications**
Johnson, J. H. and D. S. Dropkin. 1994. Biology of subyearling carp (Cyprinus carpio) in the Juniata River, Pennsylvania. Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science 68:34-36.Rottiers, D. V. and J. H. Johnson. 1993. Gastric evacuation rates of larval American shad by two species of cyprinids. Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2:147-151.Johnson, J. H. and D. S. Dropkin. 1993. Diel variation in diet composition of a riverine fish community. Hydrobiologia 149-158.Johnson, J. H. and D. S. Dropkin. 1992. Piscivory by the central stoneroller Campostoma anomalum (Osteichthyes: Cyprinidae). Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science 66:90-91.Johnson, J. H. and D. S. Dropkin. 1992. Predation on recently stocked American shad larvae in the Susquehanna River basin. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 12:504-508.Johnson, J. H., D. S. Dropkin, and P. G. Shaffer. 1992. Habitat use by a headwater stream fish community in North Central Pennsylvania. Rivers 3:69-79.Johnson, J. H., A. A. Nigro, and R. O. Temple. 1992. Evaluating enhancement of striped bass in the context of potential predation on anadromous salmonids in Coos Bay, Oregon. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 12:103-108.Johnson, J. H. and D. S. Dropkin. 1991. Summer food habits of spotfin shiner, mimic shiner, and juvenile fallfish in the Susquehanna River. Journal Freshwater Ecology 6:35-42.Sheppard, J. D. and J. H. Johnson. 1985. Probability-of-use for depth, velocity and substrate type by subyearling coho salmon and steelhead trout in Lake Ontario tributaries. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 5:277-282.Marsh, J. H. and J. H. Johnson. 1985. The role Stevens Treaty tribes in the management of anadromous fish runs in the Columbia Basin. Fisheries 10:2-5.Johnson, J. H. and P. A. Kucera. 1985. Summer-autumn habitat utilization of sub-yearling steelhead trout in tributaries of the Clearwater River, Idaho. Canadian Journal of Zoology 63:2283-2290.Johnson, J. H. 1985. Diel feeding ecology of the nymphs of Aeshna multicolor and Lestes unquiculatus (Odonata). Freshwater Biology 15:749-755.Johnson, J. H. 1985. Comparative diets of Paiute sculpin, speckled dace, and subyearling steelhead trout in tributaries of the Clearwater River, Idaho. Northwest Science 59:1-9.Johnson, J. H. and E. Z. Johnson. 1984. Comparative diets of subyearling redbreast sunfish and northern redbelly dace in an Adirondack Lake. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 2:587-591.Johnson, J. H. 1983. Summer diet of juvenile fishes in the St. Lawrence River. New York Fish and Game Journal 30:91-99.Johnson, J. H. 1983. Food habits of recently stocked subyearling Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in Lake Ontario. New York Fish and Game Journal 30:115-116.Johnson, J. H. 1983. Diel food habits of two species of setipalpian stoneflies (Plecoptera) in tributaries of the Clearwater River, Idaho. Freshwater Biology 13:105-111.Ringler, N. H. and J. H. Johnson. 1982. Diet composition and diel feeding periodicity of some fishes in the St. Lawrence River. New York Fish and Game Journal 29:65-74.Johnson, J. H. and E. Z. Johnson. 1982. Observations on the eye-picking behavior of the cutlips minnow, Exoglossum maxillinqua. Copeia 1982:711-712.Johnson, J. H. and E. Z. Johnson. 1982. Diel foraging in relation to available food in an Adirondack Mountain stream fish community. Hydrobiologia 96:97-104.Johnson, J. H. 1982. Summer feeding ecology of blacknose dace, Rhinichthys atratulus, in a tributary of Lake Ontario. Canadian Field-Naturalist 96:282-286.Johnson, J. H. 1982. Diet composition and prey selection of Cordulegaster maculata Sel. Larvae (Anisoptera: Cordulegasteridae). Notulae Odonatologicae 1:151-152.Johnson, J. H. 1982. Comparative diets of planted rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) and speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus) in a prairie impoundment in North Central Idaho. Proceedings West. Assoc. Fish and Wildlife Agencies 62:611-618.Johnson, J. H. 1981. The summer diet of the cutlips minnow, Exoglossum maxillinqua, in a central New York stream. Copeia 1981:484-487.Johnson, J. H. 1981. Predation on the eggs of steelhead trout by stream salmonids in a tributary of Lake Ontario. Progressive Fish-Culturist 43:36-37.Johnson, J. H. 1981. Food interrelationships of coexisting brook, brown, and yearling rainbow trout in tributaries of the Salmon River, New York. New York Fish and Game Journal 28:88-99.Johnson, J. H. 1981. Comparative food selection of subyearling coho salmon, Chinook salmon, and rainbow trout in a tributary of Lake Ontario. New York Fish and Game Journal 28:150-161.Johnson, J. H. 1981. Food habits and dietary overlap of perlid stoneflies (Plecoptera) in a tributary of Lake Ontario. Canadian Journal of Zoology 59:2030-2037.Johnson, J. H. and E. Z. Johnson. 1981. Feeding periodicity and diel variation in diet composition of subyearling coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and steelhead trout (Salmo gairdneri) in a small stream during summer. Fisheries Bulletin, U.S. 79:370-376.Johnson, J. H. and N. H. Ringler. 1981. Predation on immature midges (Diptera: Chironomidae) by recently emerged coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch). New York Fish and Game Journal 28:121.Johnson, J. H. and N. H. Ringler. 1981. Natural hybridization of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) with notes on meristic variation. Copeia 1981:720-721.Johnson, J. H. and N. H. Ringler. 1981. Natural reproduction and juvenile ecology of Pacific salmon and rainbow trout in tributaries of the Salmon River, New York. New York Fish and Game Journal 28:49-60.Johnson, J. H. and N. H. Ringler. 1980. Diets of juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch) and steelhead trout (Salmo gairdneri) relative to prey availability. Canadian Journal of Zoology 58:553-558.Johnson, J. H. 1980. Production and growth of subyearling coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) and steelhead (Salmo gairdneri) in Orwell brook, tributary of the Salmon River, New York. Fisheries Bulletin, U.S. 78:549-554.Johnson, J. H. and N. H. Ringler. 1979. The occurrence of blow-fly larvae (Diptera: Calliphoridae) on salmon carcasses and their utilization as food by juvenile salmon and trout. Great Lakes Entomologist 12:137-140.Johnson, J. H. and N. H. Ringler. 1979. Predation on Pacific salmon eggs by salmonids in a tributary of Lake Ontario. Journal of Great Lakes Research 5:177-181.**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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