J Johnson
Associate Professor, School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
Division of Mathematical and Natural Sciences
Arizona State University, West campus
4701 W. Thunderbird Rd
Glendale, AZ 85306-2352
Titles
- Senior Global Futures Scientist, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory
- Associate Professor, School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
Biography
J. Chadwick (Chad) Johnson is an associate professor of behavioral ecology in the New College Division of Mathematical and Natural Sciences. Dr. Johnson joined the ASU faculty in 2006 after serving as a lecturer in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at the University of California-Davis in 2005. He received his Ph.D. in biology from the University of Kentucky in 2003 and attended the University of Toronto as a National Science Foundation (NSF) International Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (2003-05). He earned his M.S. in biology at Illinois State University in 1998 and his B.A. in biopsychology from Earlham College (Richmond, Ind.) in 1990.
Dr. Johnson's teaching experience prior to his arrival at ASU's West campus includes being an instructor of behavioral ecology at the University of Toronto (2004-05) and lecturer at UC-Davis (2003, 2005).
Dr. Johnson's scholarly interests include studying animal behavior at the levels of mechanisms, individuals, populations and communities, and he is particularly interested in the way in which behavioral expression - e.g., aggression level - is correlated across distinct behavioral-ecological contexts (e.g., foraging and anti-predator contexts). To this end, Dr. Johnson tracks animals through their life cycles, studying behavior in conjunction with ecological variations found in nature.
In conjunction with the Central Arizona-Phoenix Long Term Ecological Research Project, his most recent research focuses on the study of behavior and population ecology/genetics of desert-versus-urban populations of black widow spiders native to Arizona, as well as African widow species found in urban habitats of the southeastern United States and southern California. It is Dr. Johnson's hope that by concentrating on the dynamic interaction between the behavior, ecology and population genetics of these urban infestations, the ineffectual application of pesticides can be curtailed. His research has appeared in such publications as Animal Behaviour, Behavioral Ecology, Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology,and Ethology.
Education
- PhD, Biology, University of Kentucky, 2003
- MS, Biology, Illinois State University, 1998
- BA, Biopsychology, Earlham College, 1990
Expertise
- behavioral ecology
- behavioral expression
- communities
- individuals
- animal behavior
- ecological behavior
- population biology
- species adaptation
- terrestrial ecology
- urban ecology
External Links
Journal Articles
2021
de Tranaltes, C. D., J. Dunn, J. M. Martin and J. C. Johnson. 2021. Siblicide in the city: The urban heat island accelerates sibling cannibalism in the black widow spider (Latrodectus hesperus). Urban Ecosystems DOI: 10.1007/s11252-021-01148-w. (link )
2020
Johnson, J. C., E. Garver and T. Martin. 2020. Black widows on an urban heat island: extreme heat affects spider development and behaviour from egg to adulthood. Animal Behaviour 167(Sept):77-84. DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.07.005. (link )
2019
Johnson, J. C., J. Urcuyo, C. E. Moen and D. R. Stevens II. 2019. Urban heat island conditions experienced by the western black widow spider (Latrodectus hesperus): Extreme heat slows development but results in behavioral accommodations. PLoS ONE 14(9): e0220153. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220153. (link )
Trubl, P. and J. C. Johnson. 2019. Ecological stoichiometry of the black widow spider and its prey from desert, urban and laboratory populations. Journal of Arid Environments 163(Apr):18-25. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2018.12.002. (link )
2018
Gburek, T. M. and J. C. Johnson. 2018. The effect of urbanization on the life history and color of black widow spiders. Urban Naturalist 18:1-6. (link )
Miles, L. S., J. C. Johnson, R. J. Dyer and B. C. Verrelli. 2018. Urbanization as a facilitator of gene flow in a human health pest. Molecular Ecology 27(16):3219-3230. DOI: 10.1111/mec.14783. (link )
2017
Johnson, J. C., T. M. Gburek and D. R. Stevens II. 2017. Black widows in an urbanized desert: Spatial variation and condition dependence of the red hourglass. Journal of Urban Ecology 3(1):jux013. DOI: 10.1093/jue/jux013. (link )
2016
Johnson, J. C., R. Halpin and D. R. Stevens II. 2016. Extreme developmental synchrony reduces sibling cannibalism in the black widow spider, Latrodectus hesperus. Animal Behaviour 120(Oct):61-66. DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.07.017. (link )
2015
Johnson, J. C., R. Halpin, D. R. Stevens II, A. Vannan, J. Lam and K. Bratsch. 2015. Individual variation in ballooning dispersal by black widow spiderlings: The effects of family and social rearing. Current Zoology 61(3):520-528. DOI: 10.1093/czoolo/61.3.520. (link )
2014
Halpin, R. N. and J. C. Johnson. 2014. A continuum of behavioral plasticity in urban and desert black widows. Ethology: International Journal of Behavioral Biology 120(2014):1-11. DOI: 10.1111/eth.12297. (link )
Johnson, J. C., L. S. Miles, P. Trubl and A. Hagenmaier. 2014. Maternal effects on egg investment and offspring performance in black widow spiders. Animal Behaviour 91:67-73. DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2014.02.031. (link )
Still, M., L. S. Miles, T. M. Gburek and J. C. Johnson. 2014. Adverse effects of fluorescent dust marking on the behavior of western black widow spiderlings. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 150(1):28-31. DOI: 10.1111/eea.12140. (link )
2012
Dimitrova, R., N. Lurponglukana, H. J. Fernando, G. C. Runger, P. G. Hyde, B. C. Hedquist, J. R. Anderson, W. Bannister and J. C. Johnson. 2012. Relationship between particulate matter and childhood asthma – basis of a future warning system for central Phoenix. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 12(5):2479-2490. (link )
Johnson, J. C., P. Trubl and L. S. Miles. 2012. Black widows in an urban desert: City-living compromises spider fecundity and egg investment despite urban prey abundance. The American Midland Naturalist 168:333-340. (link )
Trubl, P., T. Gburek, L. S. Miles and J. C. Johnson. 2012. Black widows in an urban desert: Population variation in an arthropod pest across metropolitan Phoenix. Urban Ecosystems 15(3):599-609. DOI: 10.1007/s11252-011-0223-2. (link )
2011
Johnson, J. C., P. Trubl, V. Blackmore and L. S. Miles. 2011. Male black widows court well-fed females more than starved females: Silken cues indicate sexual cannibalism risk. Animal Behaviour 82(2):388-390. DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2011.05.018. (link )
Johnson, P. C., O. Revis and J. C. Johnson. 2011. Chemical prey cues influence urban microhabitat preferences of Western black widow spiders, Latrodectus hesperus. Journal of Arachnology 39:449-453. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1636/Hi11-19.1. (link )
Pruitt, J. N., N. DiRienzo, S. Kralj-Fisher, J. C. Johnson and A. Sih. 2011. Individual- and condition-dependent effects on habitat choice and choosiness. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 65(10):1987-1995. DOI: 10.1007/s00265-011-1208-0. (link )
Trubl, P., V. Blackmore and J. C. Johnson. 2011. Wasteful killing in black widows: Adaptive gluttony or behavioral syndromes of voracity?. Ethology 117:236-245. DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2010.01870.x. (link )
2010
Johnson, J. C., K. Kitchen and M. C. Andrade. 2010. Family affects sibling cannibalism in the black widow spider, Latrodectus hesperus. Ethology 116(8):770-777. DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2010.01792.x. (link )
Book Chapters
2010
Sih, A., P. W. Bell and J. C. Johnson. 2010. Behavioral syndromes. Pp. 516-530 In: Westneat, D. F. and C. W. Fox eds., Evolutionary Behavioral Ecology. Oxford University Press.
Posters
2020
Clark, R. C. and J. C. Johnson. 2020. Using animal behavior to understand the impact of urbanization: Do urban black widows behave differently from their desert counterparts in the field or lab?. Poster presented at the Twenty-second Annual CAP LTER All Scientists Meeting and Poster Symposium, January 17, 2020, Skysong, Scottsdale, AZ. (link )
Lindley, S. E., N. Bogdanovic, H. Hanna and J. C. Johnson. 2020. The effect of urban heat and food availability on black widow spiders. Poster presented at the Twenty-second Annual CAP LTER All Scientists Meeting and Poster Symposium, January 17, 2020, Skysong, Scottsdale, AZ. (link )
2019
Clark, R. C. and J. C. Johnson. 2019. Urban vs desert: Comparing black widow boldness, voracity and social tolerance. Poster presented at the 21st Annual CAP LTER All Scientists Meeting and Poster Symposium, January 11, 2019, Skysong, Scottsdale, AZ. (link )
Coker, K. M., J. Hackney-Price and J. C. Johnson. 2019. The effect of urban heat-related hormones on the behavior of the western black widow spider. Poster presented at the 21st Annual CAP LTER All Scientists Meeting and Poster Symposium, January 11, 2019, Skysong, Scottsdale, AZ. (link )
de Tranaltes, C. D., D. Ryan, N. Snider, J. Dunn, Z. Olumi and J. C. Johnson. 2019. The urban heat island promotes cannibalism in desert and urban black widow spiders. Poster presented at the 21st Annual CAP LTER All Scientists Meeting and Poster Symposium, Skysong, Scottsdale, AZ. (link )
2018
Moen, C. E., J. Hackney-Price and J. C. Johnson. 2018. The urban heat island’s impact on ecdysone levels throughout development of western black widows. Poster presented at the 20th Annual CAP LTER All Scientists Meeting and Poster Symposium, January 5, 2018, Skysong, Scottsdale, AZ. (link )
2017
Moen, C. E., J. Hackney-Price and J. C. Johnson. 2017. The urban heat island's impact on ecdysone levels throughout development of western black widow. Poster presented at the 19th Annual Central-Arizona Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research All Scientists Meeting and Poster Symposium, 13 January 2017, Skysong, Scottsdale, AZ. (link )
Urcuyo, J. C. and J. C. Johnson. 2017. Urban heat island effects: How temperature influences male development and behavior in the western black widow spider. Poster presented at the 19th Annual Central Arizona-Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research All Scientists Meeting and Poster Symposium, 13 January 2017, Skysong, Scottsdale, AZ. (link )
2016
Johnson, J. C., D. Stevens, A. Vannan, A. Maney and J. Urcuyo. 2016. Do black widows like it hot? Predatory-prey dynamics on an urban heat island. Poster presented at the Central Arizona-Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research Eighteenth Annual All Scientists Meeting and Poster Symposium, 15 January 2016, Skysong, Scottsdale, AZ. (link )
2015
Johnson, J. C., D. Stevens, A. Vannan, K. Bratsch and J. Lam. 2015. Do black widows like it hot? Urban spider behavior at urban heat island temperatures. Poster presented at the Seventeenth Annual CAP LTER All Scientists Meeting and Poster Symposium, 16 January 2015, Skysong, Scottsdale, AZ. (link )
2014
Stevens II, D. R., R. Halpin and J. C. Johnson. 2014. Relative behavioral plasticity in an invasive, urban-exploiting gecko. Poster presented at the 16th Annual CAP LTER Poster Symposium and All Scientists Meeting, January 17, 2014, Skysong, Scottsdale, AZ. (link )
2013
Gburek, T. M., J. Jewell and J. C. Johnson. 2013. Ecology and color morphology of urban black widow populations. Poster presented at the 11 January 2013, 15th Annual CAP LTER Poster Symposium and All Scientist Meeting 2013, Skysong, Scottsdale, AZ. (link )
Halpin, R. and J. C. Johnson. 2013. Behavioral plasticity in the western black widow, Lactrodectus herspersus, across a continuum of urbanization. Poster presented at the 11 January 2013, 15th Annual CAP LTER Poster Symposium and All Scientist Meeting 2013, Skysong, Scottsdale, AZ. (link )
Johnson, J. C., R. Halpin, S. Sandrin, C. Bauman, A. Wirkus Camacho, A. Diedtrich, S. Mulk, A. Pate, N. Planidin, E. Slosky, J. Urcuyo and K. A. Landsdowne. 2013. Cannabalism versus social tolerance in an urban pest: What makes black widows want to kill each other?. Poster presented at the 11 January 2013, 15th Annual CAP LTER Poster Symposium and All Scientist Meeting 2013, Skysong, Scottsdale, AZ. (link )
Trubl, P. and J. C. Johnson. 2013. Ecological stoichiometry of the black widow spider: From solitary desert predator to urban pest. Poster presented at the 11 January 2013, 15th Annual CAP LTER Poster Symposium and All Scientist Meeting 2013, Skysong, Scottsdale, AZ. (link )
2012
Miles, L. S., R. E. Ziemba, J. C. Johnson and B. C. Verrelli. 2012. A population genetic approach to investigate effects of urbanization and habitat fragmentation on the Western black widow spider, Latrodectus hesperus. Poster presented at 13 January 2012 CAP LTER 14th Annual Poster Symposium and All Scientist Meeting, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. (link )
Still, M., L. A. Ferry and J. C. Johnson. 2012. Exotic urban crayfish and the threatened Sonoran Desert pupfish: Do behavior and chemical cues mediate this predator-prey relationship?. Poster presented at 13 January 2012 CAP LTER 14th Annual Poster Symposium and All Scientist Meeting, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. (link )
Trubl, P. and J. C. Johnson. 2012. The stoichiometry of urban pests: Nutrient composition in an athropod predatory-prey system across metropolitan Phoenix. Poster presented at 13 January 2012 CAP LTER 14th Annual Poster Symposium and All Scientist Meeting, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. (link )
2011
Johnson, J. C., G. M. Hupton, D. Bonney and M. M. Elser. 2011. The web of inquiry: Urban black widow spider behavior as a tool to teach the scientific process. Tempe, AZ. Poster presented at the 12-13 January 2011 CAP LTER 13th Annual Poster Symposium and All Scientist Meeting, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University. (link )
Johnson, J. C., M. Still and T. Gburek. 2011. Conspecific silk cues shape the habitat preferences of black widows. Tempe, AZ. Poster presented at the 12-13 January 2011 CAP LTER 13th Annual Poster Symposium and All Scientist Meeting, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University. (link )
Trubl, P., T. Gburek, L. S. Miles and J. C. Johnson. 2011. Black widows in an urban desert: Population variation in an urban pest across metropolitan Phoenix. Tempe, AZ. Poster presented at the 12-13 January 2011 CAP LTER 13th Annual Poster Symposium and All Scientist Meeting, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University. (link )
2010
Johnson, A., O. Revis and J. C. Johnson. 2010. Chemical prey cues influence the microhabitat preferences of western black widow spiders, Latrodectus hesperus. Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. Poster presented at the January 14, 2010 12th Annual Central Arizona-Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research Poster Symposium, Global Institute of Sustainability.
Johnson, J. C., G. M. Hupton, D. Bonney and M. M. Elser. 2010. The web of inquiry: Urban black widow behavior as a tool to teach the scientific process. Poster presented at the 25-29 July 2010 47th Annual Meeting of the Animal Behavior Society, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA.
Johnson, J. C., L. S. Miles and P. Trubl. 2010. The urban behavioral ecology of the western black widow spider: The effect of nature and nuture on development and cannibalism. Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. Poster presented at the January 14, 2010 12th Annual Central Arizona-Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research Poster Symposium, Global Institute of Sustainability.
2008
Johnson, J. C., C. I. Torres, P. Trubl, A. Gohr and M. Rife. 2008. Urban behavioral ecology of the western black widow spider Latrodectus hesperus: From solitary desert predator to urban pest. Poster presented at 10 January 2008 CAP LTER 10th Annual Poster Symposium, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. (link )
Kitchen, K. and J. C. Johnson. 2008. The effects of relatedness, age differences, and maternal investment on juvenile cannabilism in the black widow spider, Latrodectus hesperus. Poster presented at 10 January 2008 CAP LTER 10th Annual Poster Symposium, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. (link )