Nicholas S Johnson, PhD
Nicholas Johnson is a Supervisory 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
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Filter Total Items: 121
An evaluation of silver-stage American Eel conspecific chemical cueing during outmigration An evaluation of silver-stage American Eel conspecific chemical cueing during outmigration
American Eel Anguilla rostrata abundance has declined in recent decades, in part because sexually maturing, silver-stage adults, outmigrating from freshwater to oceanic spawning grounds, encounter migratory blockades or perish when passing through active hydroelectric turbines. To help improve downstream passage effectiveness and increase survival rates, the role of silver-stage American...
Authors
Andrew Schmucker, Nicholas Johnson, Heather Galbraith, Weiming Li
Rapid evolution meets invasive species control: The potential for pesticide resistance in sea lamprey Rapid evolution meets invasive species control: The potential for pesticide resistance in sea lamprey
Rapid evolution of pest, pathogen and wildlife populations can have undesirable effects; for example, when insects evolve resistance to pesticides or fishes evolve smaller body size in response to harvest. A destructive invasive species in the Laurentian Great Lakes, the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) has been controlled with the pesticide 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) since...
Authors
Erin Dunlop, Robert McLaughlin, Jean Adams, Michael L. Jones, Oana Birceanu, Mark Christie, Lori Criger, Julia Hinderer, Robert Hollingworth, Nicholas S. Johnson, Stephen Lantz, Weiming Li, James Miller, Bruce Morrison, David Mota-Sanchez, Andrew Muir, Maria Sepulveda, Todd Steeves, Lisa Walter, Erin Westman, Isaac Wirgin, Michael Wilkie
Movement patterns and spatial segregation of two populations of lake trout Salvelinus namaycush in Lake Huron Movement patterns and spatial segregation of two populations of lake trout Salvelinus namaycush in Lake Huron
Movement ecology is an important component of life history and population dynamics, and consequently its understanding can inform successful fishery management decision-making. While lake trout populations in Lake Huron have shown signs of recovery from near extinction in recent years, knowledge of their movement behavior remains incomplete. We used acoustic telemetry to describe and...
Authors
Thomas Binder, J. Ellen Marsden, Stephen Riley, James E. Johnson, Nicholas S. Johnson, Ji He, Mark Ebener, Christopher Holbrook, Roger A. Bergstedt, Charles Bronte, Todd Hayden, Charles C. Krueger
Test of a non-physical barrier consisting of light, sound, and bubble screen to block upstream movement of sea lamprey in an experimental raceway Test of a non-physical barrier consisting of light, sound, and bubble screen to block upstream movement of sea lamprey in an experimental raceway
Control of the invasive Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus is critical for management of commercial and recreational fisheries in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Use of physical barriers to block Sea Lampreys from spawning habitat is a major component of the control program. However, the resulting interruption of natural streamflow and blockage of nontarget species present substantial challenges
Authors
Scott Miehls, Nicholas S. Johnson, Pete J. Hrodey
Field study suggests that sex determination in sea lamprey is directly influenced by larval growth rate Field study suggests that sex determination in sea lamprey is directly influenced by larval growth rate
Sex determination mechanisms in fishes lie along a genetic-environmental continuum and thereby offer opportunities to understand how physiology and environment interact to determine sex. Mechanisms and ecological consequences of sex determination in fishes are primarily garnered from teleosts, with little investigation into basal fishes. We tagged and released larval sea lamprey...
Authors
Nicholas S. Johnson, William Swink, Travis Brenden
Electrical guidance efficiency of downstream-migrating juvenile Sea Lamprey decreases with increasing water velocity Electrical guidance efficiency of downstream-migrating juvenile Sea Lamprey decreases with increasing water velocity
We tested the efficacy of a vertically oriented field of pulsed direct current (VEPDC) created by an array of vertical electrodes for guiding downstream-moving juvenile Sea Lampreys Petromyzon marinus to a bypass channel in an artificial flume at water velocities of 10–50 cm/s. Sea Lampreys were more likely to be captured in the bypass channel than in other sections of the flume...
Authors
Scott Miehls, Nicholas S. Johnson, Alexander Haro
Donor life stage influences juvenile American eel Anguilla rostrata attraction to conspecific chemical cues Donor life stage influences juvenile American eel Anguilla rostrata attraction to conspecific chemical cues
The present study investigated the potential role of conspecific chemical cues in inland juvenile American eel Anguilla rostrata migrations by assessing glass eel and 1 year old elver affinities to elver washings, and elver affinity to adult yellow eel washings. In two-choice maze assays, glass eels were attracted to elver washings, but elvers were neither attracted to nor repulsed by...
Authors
Heather Galbraith, Carrie Blakeslee, Andrew Schmucker, Nicholas S. Johnson, Michael Hansen, Weiming Li
Migratory-stage sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus stop responding to conspecific damage-released alarm cues after 4 h of continuous exposure in laboratory conditions Migratory-stage sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus stop responding to conspecific damage-released alarm cues after 4 h of continuous exposure in laboratory conditions
This study investigated the length of avoidance response of migratory-stage sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus exposed continuously to conspecific damage-released alarm cues for varying lengths of time in laboratory stream channels. Ten replicate groups of P. marinus, separated by sex, were exposed to either deionized water control or to P. marinus extract for 0, 2 or 4 h continuously...
Authors
Istvan Imre, Richard Di Rocco, Haley McClure, Nicholas S. Johnson, Grant Brown
Evidence for partial overlap of male olfactory cues in lampreys Evidence for partial overlap of male olfactory cues in lampreys
Animals rely on a mosaic of complex information to find and evaluate mates. Pheromones, often comprised of multiple components, are considered to be particularly important for species-recognition in many species. While the evolution of species-specific pheromone blends is well-described in many insects, very few vertebrate pheromones have been studied in a macro-evolutionary context...
Authors
Tyler Buchinger, Ke Li, Mar Huertas, Cindy Baker, Liang Jia, Michael Hayes, Weiming Li, Nicholas Johnson
Survival and metamorphosis of larval sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) residing in Lakes Michigan and Huron near river mouths Survival and metamorphosis of larval sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) residing in Lakes Michigan and Huron near river mouths
Although population demographics of larval lampreys in streams have been studied extensively, demographics in lake environments have not. Here, we estimated survival and rates of metamorphosis for larval sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) populations residing in the Great Lakes near river mouths (hereafter termed lentic areas). Tagged larvae were stocked and a Bayesian multi-state tag...
Authors
Nicholas Johnson, Travis Brenden, William Swink, Mathew Lipps
Contribution of manipulable and non-manipulable environmental factors to trapping efficiency of invasive sea lamprey Contribution of manipulable and non-manipulable environmental factors to trapping efficiency of invasive sea lamprey
We identified aspects of the trapping process that afforded opportunities for improving trap efficiency of invasive sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in a Great Lake's tributary. Capturing a sea lamprey requires it to encounter the trap, enter, and be retained until removed. Probabilities of these events depend on the interplay between sea lamprey behavior, environmental conditions, and...
Authors
Heather Dawson, Gale Bravener, Joshua Beaulaurier, Nicholas Johnson, Michael Twohey, Robert McLaughlin, Travis Brenden
Sea lamprey avoid areas scented with conspecific tissue extract in Michigan streams Sea lamprey avoid areas scented with conspecific tissue extract in Michigan streams
Three in-stream experiments were conducted to determine whether sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus L., tissue extract (alarm cue) and 2-phenylethylamine hydrochloride (PEA HCl, a putative predator cue) influenced the distribution of migrating adult sea lamprey. Experiments evaluated sea lamprey movement when an odour was applied to (1) a tributary of a larger stream; and (2) half of a...
Authors
Richard Di Rocco, Nicholas S. Johnson, Linnea Brege, I. Imre, G.E. Brown
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.
News about this scientist
Filter Total Items: 15
Science and Products
Science pages by this scientist
Data releases by this scientist
Multimedia related to this scientist
Publications by this scientist
Filter Total Items: 121
An evaluation of silver-stage American Eel conspecific chemical cueing during outmigration An evaluation of silver-stage American Eel conspecific chemical cueing during outmigration
American Eel Anguilla rostrata abundance has declined in recent decades, in part because sexually maturing, silver-stage adults, outmigrating from freshwater to oceanic spawning grounds, encounter migratory blockades or perish when passing through active hydroelectric turbines. To help improve downstream passage effectiveness and increase survival rates, the role of silver-stage American...
Authors
Andrew Schmucker, Nicholas Johnson, Heather Galbraith, Weiming Li
Rapid evolution meets invasive species control: The potential for pesticide resistance in sea lamprey Rapid evolution meets invasive species control: The potential for pesticide resistance in sea lamprey
Rapid evolution of pest, pathogen and wildlife populations can have undesirable effects; for example, when insects evolve resistance to pesticides or fishes evolve smaller body size in response to harvest. A destructive invasive species in the Laurentian Great Lakes, the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) has been controlled with the pesticide 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) since...
Authors
Erin Dunlop, Robert McLaughlin, Jean Adams, Michael L. Jones, Oana Birceanu, Mark Christie, Lori Criger, Julia Hinderer, Robert Hollingworth, Nicholas S. Johnson, Stephen Lantz, Weiming Li, James Miller, Bruce Morrison, David Mota-Sanchez, Andrew Muir, Maria Sepulveda, Todd Steeves, Lisa Walter, Erin Westman, Isaac Wirgin, Michael Wilkie
Movement patterns and spatial segregation of two populations of lake trout Salvelinus namaycush in Lake Huron Movement patterns and spatial segregation of two populations of lake trout Salvelinus namaycush in Lake Huron
Movement ecology is an important component of life history and population dynamics, and consequently its understanding can inform successful fishery management decision-making. While lake trout populations in Lake Huron have shown signs of recovery from near extinction in recent years, knowledge of their movement behavior remains incomplete. We used acoustic telemetry to describe and...
Authors
Thomas Binder, J. Ellen Marsden, Stephen Riley, James E. Johnson, Nicholas S. Johnson, Ji He, Mark Ebener, Christopher Holbrook, Roger A. Bergstedt, Charles Bronte, Todd Hayden, Charles C. Krueger
Test of a non-physical barrier consisting of light, sound, and bubble screen to block upstream movement of sea lamprey in an experimental raceway Test of a non-physical barrier consisting of light, sound, and bubble screen to block upstream movement of sea lamprey in an experimental raceway
Control of the invasive Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus is critical for management of commercial and recreational fisheries in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Use of physical barriers to block Sea Lampreys from spawning habitat is a major component of the control program. However, the resulting interruption of natural streamflow and blockage of nontarget species present substantial challenges
Authors
Scott Miehls, Nicholas S. Johnson, Pete J. Hrodey
Field study suggests that sex determination in sea lamprey is directly influenced by larval growth rate Field study suggests that sex determination in sea lamprey is directly influenced by larval growth rate
Sex determination mechanisms in fishes lie along a genetic-environmental continuum and thereby offer opportunities to understand how physiology and environment interact to determine sex. Mechanisms and ecological consequences of sex determination in fishes are primarily garnered from teleosts, with little investigation into basal fishes. We tagged and released larval sea lamprey...
Authors
Nicholas S. Johnson, William Swink, Travis Brenden
Electrical guidance efficiency of downstream-migrating juvenile Sea Lamprey decreases with increasing water velocity Electrical guidance efficiency of downstream-migrating juvenile Sea Lamprey decreases with increasing water velocity
We tested the efficacy of a vertically oriented field of pulsed direct current (VEPDC) created by an array of vertical electrodes for guiding downstream-moving juvenile Sea Lampreys Petromyzon marinus to a bypass channel in an artificial flume at water velocities of 10–50 cm/s. Sea Lampreys were more likely to be captured in the bypass channel than in other sections of the flume...
Authors
Scott Miehls, Nicholas S. Johnson, Alexander Haro
Donor life stage influences juvenile American eel Anguilla rostrata attraction to conspecific chemical cues Donor life stage influences juvenile American eel Anguilla rostrata attraction to conspecific chemical cues
The present study investigated the potential role of conspecific chemical cues in inland juvenile American eel Anguilla rostrata migrations by assessing glass eel and 1 year old elver affinities to elver washings, and elver affinity to adult yellow eel washings. In two-choice maze assays, glass eels were attracted to elver washings, but elvers were neither attracted to nor repulsed by...
Authors
Heather Galbraith, Carrie Blakeslee, Andrew Schmucker, Nicholas S. Johnson, Michael Hansen, Weiming Li
Migratory-stage sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus stop responding to conspecific damage-released alarm cues after 4 h of continuous exposure in laboratory conditions Migratory-stage sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus stop responding to conspecific damage-released alarm cues after 4 h of continuous exposure in laboratory conditions
This study investigated the length of avoidance response of migratory-stage sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus exposed continuously to conspecific damage-released alarm cues for varying lengths of time in laboratory stream channels. Ten replicate groups of P. marinus, separated by sex, were exposed to either deionized water control or to P. marinus extract for 0, 2 or 4 h continuously...
Authors
Istvan Imre, Richard Di Rocco, Haley McClure, Nicholas S. Johnson, Grant Brown
Evidence for partial overlap of male olfactory cues in lampreys Evidence for partial overlap of male olfactory cues in lampreys
Animals rely on a mosaic of complex information to find and evaluate mates. Pheromones, often comprised of multiple components, are considered to be particularly important for species-recognition in many species. While the evolution of species-specific pheromone blends is well-described in many insects, very few vertebrate pheromones have been studied in a macro-evolutionary context...
Authors
Tyler Buchinger, Ke Li, Mar Huertas, Cindy Baker, Liang Jia, Michael Hayes, Weiming Li, Nicholas Johnson
Survival and metamorphosis of larval sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) residing in Lakes Michigan and Huron near river mouths Survival and metamorphosis of larval sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) residing in Lakes Michigan and Huron near river mouths
Although population demographics of larval lampreys in streams have been studied extensively, demographics in lake environments have not. Here, we estimated survival and rates of metamorphosis for larval sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) populations residing in the Great Lakes near river mouths (hereafter termed lentic areas). Tagged larvae were stocked and a Bayesian multi-state tag...
Authors
Nicholas Johnson, Travis Brenden, William Swink, Mathew Lipps
Contribution of manipulable and non-manipulable environmental factors to trapping efficiency of invasive sea lamprey Contribution of manipulable and non-manipulable environmental factors to trapping efficiency of invasive sea lamprey
We identified aspects of the trapping process that afforded opportunities for improving trap efficiency of invasive sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in a Great Lake's tributary. Capturing a sea lamprey requires it to encounter the trap, enter, and be retained until removed. Probabilities of these events depend on the interplay between sea lamprey behavior, environmental conditions, and...
Authors
Heather Dawson, Gale Bravener, Joshua Beaulaurier, Nicholas Johnson, Michael Twohey, Robert McLaughlin, Travis Brenden
Sea lamprey avoid areas scented with conspecific tissue extract in Michigan streams Sea lamprey avoid areas scented with conspecific tissue extract in Michigan streams
Three in-stream experiments were conducted to determine whether sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus L., tissue extract (alarm cue) and 2-phenylethylamine hydrochloride (PEA HCl, a putative predator cue) influenced the distribution of migrating adult sea lamprey. Experiments evaluated sea lamprey movement when an odour was applied to (1) a tributary of a larger stream; and (2) half of a...
Authors
Richard Di Rocco, Nicholas S. Johnson, Linnea Brege, I. Imre, G.E. Brown
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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