Brett M. Johnson
Professor

Dept. of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology
233 Wagar Bldg

1474 Campus Delivery
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523

Phone: (970)491-5002 FAX: (970)491-5091
Email: brett.johnson"at"colostate.edu

Full CV: PDF (Jan 23, 2012)

 

Education | Experience | Affiliations | Research | Teaching | Grad Students & Postdocs | Positions in My Lab | Publications


Education
Ph.D. Zoology, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1993
M.S. Zoology, Aquatic Ecology Lab, The Ohio State University, 1986

B.S. Zoology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1983

Professional Experience
2004-        Professor, Department of Fishery and Wildlife Biology (now Dept. of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology), Colorado State University.
1998-2004  Associate Professor, Department of Fishery and Wildlife Biology, Colorado State University.
1992-1998  Assistant Professor, Department of Fishery and Wildlife Biology, Colorado State University.
1987-1992  Fisheries Manager, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin.
1986-1987  Research Assistant, Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, UW-Stevens Point, and Research Specialist, WI Dept. of Natural Resources, Spooner.

Professional Affiliations
American Fisheries Society
Colorado Lake and Reservoir Management Association

Ecological Society of America
North American Lake Management Society

The Wildlife Society

 

Research Interests (to Lab Web Site)

My research is directed at applying ecological principles to conservation and management of aquatic ecosystems. I am interested in trophic interactions, reservoir ecology, effects of nonnative fishes, fisheries management, limnology, bioenergetics, contaminants, population dynamics, computer models. My current work is focusing on anthropogenic influences on aquatic ecosystems such as climate, invasive species, reservoir operations, sport fishery harvest regulation, fish stocking, and contaminants. I enjoy applying a wide variety of techniques and approaches including field sampling, modeling, field experiments, classical fisheries biology analytical techniques, stable isotope analysis, and otolith microchemistry. I am building bridges (excuse the pun) between aquatic ecology and environmental management with water researchers in CSU's engineering departments.  Most of my projects benefit from close collaboration with managers and researchers from Colorado Division of Wildlife, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and folks in several other state and federal agencies.

I have become increasingly concerned about the issue of illegal stocking and developed a website devoted to curbing the practice: Illegal Stocking Website.

Teaching

My teaching responsibilities include our senior-level Fishery Science course FW401 which stresses the quantitative aspects of fishery biology and fishery management. This course includes a laboratory section for hands-on experience with concepts discussed in lecture; labs stress computer applications for fishery analysis. I also teach Ichthyology FW300 and FW301 which cover fish anatomy and physiology, evolution and systematics, ecology, genetics, zoogeography, and conservation biology. I regularly co-teach graduate seminars and give numerous guest lectures in undergraduate and graduate courses. I draw heavily on my research experience to provide contemporary, interesting and illustrative examples for all of my courses.

Here's a web resource I developed for my classes: Field Guide to Colorado-Wyoming Fishes

Awards and Honors
2006 Best Presentation Award, Colorado-Wyoming Chapter of the American Fisheries Society

2006 Award of Excellence (Electronic Fish ID Flashcards). Study Sphere
2005
Provost's N. Preston Davis Award for Instructional Innovation, Colorado State University
2002 Certified Fisheries Professional, American Fisheries Society
2001 Most Significant Paper Award, North American Journal of Fisheries Management, American Fisheries Society
2001 Favorite Professor, CNR College Student Council, Dept of Fishery and Wildlife Biology, Colorado State University
1999 Interdisciplinary Water Research Award. The Water Center, Colorado State University
1998 Certificate of Appreciation.  Colorado-Wyoming and Bonneville Chapters of the American Fisheries Society, Grand Junction, CO.
1997 Best Poster Award.  Colorado-Wyoming Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Cheyenne, WY.
1995 Best Paper Award (coauthor). Colorado/Wyoming Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Casper, WY.
1992 Best Student Poster Award (coauthor).   North American Lake Management Society, Cincinnati, OH.
1990 Honorable Mention, Best Student Paper Award.  Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Minneapolis, MN.
1989 Southern District Fish Manager of the Year.  Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
1989 Best Student Paper Award.  Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Springfield, IL.
1987 Best Paper Award.  Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Milwaukee, WI.
1985 Best Student Paper Award. National meeting, AFS, Sun Valley, ID.

My Graduate Students and Postdocs

Positions in My Lab

Recent Publications

Arlinghaus, R., S.J.Cooke and B.M. Johnson. 2012. Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries: Recreational fisheries. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy.

Johnson, B.M. and P.J. Martinez. 2012. Hydroclimate mediates effects of a keystone species in a coldwater reservoir. Lake and Reservoir Management (in press).

Wolff, B.A., B.M. Johnson, A.R. Breton, P.J. Martinez, and D.L. Winkelman. 2012. Origins and movements of invasive piscivores determined from the strontium isotope (87Sr/86Sr) ratio of otoliths. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (in press).

Lepak, J.M., K-D. Kinzli, E.R. Fetherman, W.M. Pate, A.G. Hansen, E.I. Gardunio, C.N. Cathcart, W.L. Stacy, Z.E. Underwood, M.M. Brandt, C.A. Myrick, and B.M. Johnson. 2012. Manipulation of Sport Fish Growth to Reduce Mercury Bioaccumulation on a Whole-system Scale. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (in press).

Busch, S., B.M. Johnson, and T. Mehner. 2011. Energetic costs and benefits of cyclic habitat switching: a bioenergetics model analysis of diel vertical migration in coregonids. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 68:706-717.

Johnson, B.M., R. Arlinghaus, and P.J. Martinez. 2009. Are we doing all we can to stem the tide of illegal fish stocking? Fisheries 34(8): 389-394. PDF


Gibson-Reinemer, D.K., B.M. Johnson, P.J. Martinez, D.L. Winkelman, A. E. Koenig, and J.D. Woodhead. 2009. Elemental signatures in otoliths of hatchery trout: distinctiveness and utility for detecting origins and movement. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 66:513-524. PDF

Arlinghaus, R., B.M. Johnson, and C. Wolter. 2008. The past, present and future role of limnology in freshwater fisheries science. International Review of Hydrobiology 93: 541-549. PDF

Johnson, B.M., P.J. Martinez, J.H. Hawkins, and K.R. Bestgen.  2008.  Ranking predatory threats by nonnative fishes in the Yampa River, Colorado via bioenergetics modeling.  North American Journal of Fisheries Management 28:1941-1953. PDF

Whitledge, G. W., B. M. Johnson, P. J. Martinez, and A. M. Martinez.  2007. Sources of nonnative centrarchids in the upper Colorado River revealed by stable isotope and microchemical analyses of otoliths. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 136: 1263–1275. PDF

Beauchamp, D. A., D. H. Wahl, and B. M. Johnson.  2007.  Predator-Prey Interactions.  Chapter 16 In M. L. Brown and C. S. Guy, editors. Analysis and interpretation of freshwater fisheries data.  American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland.

Crockett, H. J., B. M. Johnson, P. J. Martinez, and D. Brauch.  2006. Modeling Target Strength Distributions to Improve Hydroacoustic Estimation of Lake Trout Population Size. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 135:1095–1108. PDF

Whitledge, G. W., B. M. Johnson and P. J. Martinez.  2006.  Stable hydrogen isotopic composition of fishes reflects that of their environment. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 63:1746-1751. PDF

Nydick, K. R., B. M. Moraska Lafrancois, J. S. Baron, and B. M. Johnson. 2004.  Nitrogen regulation of algal biomass, productivity, and composition in small mountain lakes, Snowy Range, Wyoming, USA.  Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 61:1256-1268.

Lafrancois, B. Moraska, K. R. Nydick, B. M. Johnson, and J. S. Baron.  2004.  Cumulative effects of nutrients and pH on the plankton of two mountain lakes. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 61:1153-1165.

Hardiman, J. M., B. M. Johnson, and P. J. Martinez.  2004.  Do predators influence distribution of young-of-year kokanee in a Colorado reservoir?  Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 133:1366-1378.

Johnson, B.M., M. Anderson, L. Saito, P. Weiss, M. Andre and D. Fontane.  2004.  Effects of climate and dam operations on reservoir thermal structure. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management 130: 112-122.

Nydick, K. R., B. M. Moraska, J. S. Baron, and B. M. Johnson.  2003.  Lake-specific responses to elevated atmospheric nitrogen deposition in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, USA.  Hydrobiologia 510:103-114.

Koski, M. L., B. M.  Johnson, and T. Stecklein.  2003.  Effects of light on size selectivity of kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka) feeding on Daphnia. Journal of Fish Biology 62:1456-1461.

Moraska, B.M., D. M. Carlisle, K. R. Nydick, B. M. Johnson, and J. S. Baron.  2003.   Environmental characteristics and benthic invertebrate assemblages in Colorado mountain lakes. Western North American Naturalist 63:137-154.

MacRury, N. K., B. D. S. Graeb, B. M. Johnson and W. H. Clements.  2002.  Comparison of dietary mercury exposure in two sympatric top predator fishes, largemouth bass and northern pike: a bioenergetics modeling approach. Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Stress and Recovery 9:137-147.

Lathrop, R.C., B. M. Johnson, T. B. Johnson, M. T. Vogelsang, S. R. Carpenter, T. R. Hrabik, J. F. Kitchell, J. J. Magnuson, L. G. Rudstam, and R. S. Stewart. 2002.  Stocking piscivores to improve fishing and water clarity: a synthesis of the Lake Mendota biomanipulation project.  Freshwater Biology 47:2410-2424.

Koski, M. and B. M. Johnson. 2002.  Functional response of kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka) feeding on Daphnia under a range of light intensities.  Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 59(4): 707-716.

Johnson, B. M., P. J. Martinez, and J. D. Stockwell.  2002. Tracking trophic interactions in coldwater reservoirs using naturally occurring stable isotopes.  Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 131:1-13.

Saito, L., B. M. Johnson, J. M. Bartholow, and D. G. Fontane.  2001. Interdisciplinary modelling to assess ecosystem effects of reservoir operations.  Integrated Water Resources Management Symposium Proceedings, IAHS Publication No. 272, International Association of Hydrological Sciences, Oxford.

Martinez, P. J., B. M. Johnson, and J. Hobgood.  2001. Stable isotope signatures of native and non-native fishes in upper Colorado River backwaters and ponds. Southwestern Naturalist 46:311-322.

Saito, L., B. M. Johnson, J. Bartholow, and R. B. Hanna.  2001.  Assessing ecosystem effects of reservoir operations using food web-energy transfer and water quality models.  Ecosystems 4:105-125.

Johnson, B. M. and P.J. Martinez.  2000.  Trophic economics of lake trout management in reservoirs of differing productivity. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 20:115‑131. (Most Significant Paper Award)

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

 

Education | Experience | Affiliations | Research | Teaching | Grad Students & Postdocs | Positions in My Lab | Publications


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Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523 USA
Brett Johnson
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