Dr. Johnson’s research focuses on two pervasive and inter-related forms of biological change: disease emergence and species invasions. Both have important consequences for individuals, populations, and for entire ecological communities and ecosystem processes. Invasions and disease also have costly economic and health repercussions for human societies. Dr. Johnson’s lab focuses on developing a dynamic, ecological understanding of disease emergence as a prerequisite for intervention. Recent publications by his group have highlighted how losses of biodiversity can enhance parasite transmission and how nutrient runoff can indirectly drive disease through changes in ecological food webs. These same patterns are evident for both human and wildlife diseases. Currently his research program is directed at three focal areas: (i) the community ecology of disease, (ii) biodiversity loss and infectious disease, (iii) and parasitic infections in marine ecosystems
keywords
disease ecology, invasion biology, community ecology, global change biology, marine and freshwater biology
EBIO 1220 - General Biology 2
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2019
Provides a concentrated introduction to organisms, homeostasis, development, behavior, and ecology. Emphasizes fundamental principles, concepts, facts,and questions. Intended for science majors. Recommended prerequisite: EBIO 1210 (minimum grade C-).
EBIO 3980 - Seminar: EBIO Honors Thesis
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2020
Offers guidance to graduating Honors students during the process of thesis writing, evaluation and presentation of their research results and thesis defense. Thesis requirements and the role of the A&S Honors Council will be discussed. All graduating candidates will present a practice defense talk for peer feedback and will be expected to offer feedback to their peers. Recommended prerequisites: minimum 3.3 GPA and a declared EBIO major and approval by departmental honors committee.
EBIO 3990 - EBIO Honors Thesis Research
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2022
Provides an introduction to the departmental Honors program. Consists of individual library research on a potential Honors thesis topic under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Recommended prerequisites: minimum 3.2 GPA and approval by departmental honors committee.
EBIO 4090 - Coral Reef Ecology
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2023 / Fall 2024
Combines classroom-based instruction in the Fall semester with an international, field-based SCUBA diving expedition to learn about the incredible coral reef ecosystems of the Caribbean, Curacao (in early January). Students learn about and observe a variety of organisms that make the reef their home. The course covers threats to coral reefs worldwide as well as ongoing efforts aimed at conservation. Scuba certification required. Recommended prerequisite: any ecology course is a highly recommended.
EBIO 4410 - Biological Statistics
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2023 / Fall 2024
Lect. and lab. Offers a demanding, problems-oriented methods course in statistical inference procedures, assumptions, limitations, and applications emphasizing techniques appropriate to realistic biological problems. Includes data file management using interactive computing techniques. Recommended prerequisites: EBIO 1210 and EBIO 1220 and EBIO 1230 and EBIO 1240 (minimum grade C-). Same as EBIO 5410.
EBIO 4460 - Special Topics
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2024
Familiarizes students with specialized areas of biology. May be repeated up to 15 total credit hours. Recommended prerequisites: EBIO 1210 and EBIO 1220 and EBIO 1230 and EBIO 1240 (minimum grade C-). Same as EBIO 5460.
EBIO 4870 - Independent Research: Upper Division
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024 / Summer 2024 / Fall 2024
May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours.
EBIO 4980 - Seminar: EBIO Honors Thesis
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2020 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2023
Offers guidance to graduating Honors students during the process of thesis writing, evaluation and presentation of their research results and thesis defense. Thesis requirements and the role of the A&S Honors Council will be discussed. All graduating candidates will present a practice defense talk for peer feedback and will be expected to offer feedback to their peers. Recommended prerequisites: minimum 3.3 GPA and a declared EBIO major and approval by departmental honors committee.
EBIO 4990 - EBIO Honors Thesis Research
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2019 / Fall 2021
To be taken during the final academic year prior to graduation. Consists of the final phase of honors research and thesis preparation under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Recommended prerequisites: minimum 3.3 GPA and a declared EBIO major and approval by departmental Honors program.
EBIO 5410 - Biological Statistics
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2023 / Fall 2024
Lect. and lab. Offers a demanding, problems-oriented methods course in statistical inference procedures, assumptions, limitations, and applications emphasizing techniques appropriate to realistic biological problems. Includes data file management using interactive computing techniques. Same as EBIO 4410.
EBIO 5460 - Special Topics
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018
Familiarizes students with specialized areas of biology. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours. Same as EBIO 4460.
