Gregory D. Johnson

Western EcoSystems Technology Inc. | WESTINC · Cheyenne, WY

The greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is experiencing range-wide population declines and was previously classified as a candidate for protection under the Endangered Species Act. While policies regulating anthropogenic development are important in the conservation of greater sage-grouse, additional programs to conserve and enhance gre...

Increasing concern for environmental sustainability, the demand for domestic energy, and an impetus on reducing dependence on fossil fuels have led to substantial investment in renewable energies including wind energy over the last 2 decades. Increases in wind energy development are especially noticeable in prairie habitats with high wind capacity....

Wind energy development is an emerging source of anthropogenic disturbance that could affect greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) populations. Our objective was to determine the response of male sage-grouse attending leks (lek counts) to wind energy development using a before/after– control/treatment study design. We counted...

Animal habitat selection is an important and expansive area of research in ecology. In particular, the study of habitat selection is critical in habitat prioritization efforts for species of conservation concern. Landscape planning for species is happening at ever-increasing extents because of the appreciation for the role of landscape-scale patter...

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) are experiencing population declines across much of their current range. Population declines are directly related to changes in greater sage-grouse fitness parameters including nest and brood success, and female survival. Reduced fitness in greater sage-grouse populations has been attributed to a decr...

This study was conducted to obtain baseline data on use of the proposed Simpson Ridge Wind Resource Area (SRWRA) in Carbon County, Wyoming by greater sage-grouse. The first two study years were designed to determine pre-construction seasonally selected habitats and population-level vital rates (productivity and survival). The presence of an existin...

Animals can require different habitat types throughout their annual cycles. When considering habitat prioritization, we need to explicitly consider habitat requirements throughout the annual cycle, particularly for species of conservation concern. Understanding annual habitat requirements begins with quantifying how far individuals move across land...

Migrating bats have increased mortality near moving turbine blades at wind farms. The authors evaluated competing hypotheses of barotrauma and traumatic injury to determine the cause. They first examined the utility of lungs from salvaged bat carcasses for histopathologic diagnosis of barotrauma and studied laboratory mice as a model system. Postmo...

Renewable or green energy is defined as energy generated from natural processes that are replenished over time; it includes electricity and heat generated from solar, wind, hydropower, biomass, geothermal resources, and biofuels derived from renewable resources. In 2006, around 18 percent of global energy use was derived from renewable sources (REN...

Abstract Wind has become one of the fastest growing sources of renewable energy worldwide, but widespread and often extensive fatalities of bats have increased concern regarding the impacts of wind energy development on bats and other wildlife. We synthesized available information on patterns of bat fatalities from a review of 21 postconstruction f...

We examined bat activity levels, species composition, and collision mortality at a large wind plant in southwest Minnesota from 15 June-15 September, 2001 and 2002. We found 151 bat casualties, most of which were hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus). We recorded 3,718 bat passes at bat foraging and roosting areas within 3.6 km of the wind plant (x̄ = 48/...

In 1994 a major wind power development project was initiated in southwest Minnesota that may eventually produce 425 megawatts (MW) of electricity. The wind plant currently consists of 3 phases that total 354 turbines capable of generating 236 MW. During a study conducted from 1996–1999 to assess effects of wind power development on wildlife, 184 ba...

At a time of growing concern over the rising costs and long-term environmental impacts of the use of fossil fuels and nuclear energy, wind energy has become an increasingly important sector of the electrical power industry, largely because it has been promoted as being emission-free and is supported by government subsidies and tax credits. However,...

We examined bat activity levels, species composition, and collision mortality at a large wind plant in southwest Minnesota from 15 June-15 September, 2001 and 2002. We found 151 bat casualties, most of which were hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus). We recorded 3,718 bat passes at bat foraging and roosting areas within 3.6 km of the wind plant (x̄=48/de...

In 1994 Xcel Energy initiated a wind-power development project in southwestern Minnesota that will eventually produce 425 megawatts (MW) of electricity. During our study the wind farm consisted of 3 phases of development totaling 354 turbines capable of generating 236 MW, depending on wind speed. We assessed effects of the wind farm on birds from 1...

Sodium orthophenylphenate (SOPP) has been used extensively for >40 years to control postharvest diseases of citrus fruits. Studies of the metabolism of [(14)C]SOPP have identified orthophenylphenol (OPP) as the major metabolite with phenylhydroquinone (PHQ) as a minor metabolite. The whole-fruit tolerance in the United States for OPP is 10 ppm. Thi...

It has been estimated that from 100 million to well over 1 billion birds are killed annually in the United States due to collisions with human-made structures, including vehicles, buildings and windows, powerlines, communication towers, and wind turbines. Although wind energy is generally considered environmentally friendly (because it generates el...

This report presents a literature review on avian-wind turbine interactions and the results of a one-year avian baseline study conducted in 1998 at the proposed Conservation and Renewable Energy System (CARES) wind development site in Klickitat County, Washington. Avian use of the site ranged from 1.11/survey in the winter to 5.69/survey in the spr...

Blood collected from song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) and American robins (Turdus migratorius) captured with mist nets in a lead-contaminated (assessment) area and nearby uncontaminated (reference) areas within the Coeur d'Alene Basin in northern Idaho was analyzed for δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity (ALAD) and hematocrit levels, and li...

Reductions in river flows associated with hydrologic changes from diversions may reduce water elevations and impact hydrology of riparian wetlands. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other federal agencies currently do not have appropriate tools to evaluate effects of hydrologic changes on wetlands. We describe use of HEC-RAS modeling to predict...

This paper defines and illustrates some statistical methods useful in assessing risk of avian collision with turbines and other potential windplant-related wildlife impacts. We use examples from monitoring studies we have developed for the SeaWest wind plant near Arlington, Wyoming (Johnson et al. 1998b), and the Buffalo Ridge Wind Plant near Lake...

Diphenylamine (DPA) is used for scald suppression on apples held in commercial controlled atmosphere (CA) storage. The whole fruit tolerance in the United States for DPA is 10 ppm. This study was conducted to quantify terminal DPA residues in Red Delicious and Granny Smith apples and processed products including cider and wet and dried pomace follo...

We assessed river habitat selection of waterfowl wintering in the South Platte River below the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District treatment plant in Adams County, Colorado to determine potential impacts of proposed river channel modifications. Daily mean number of waterfowl was 711 per km of river over the study area, and 19 species of waterfowl...

Brace® 10G (a.i. isazofos), an organophosphorus insecticide being tested for potential registration for control of various corn pests, was applied to 14 Iowa cornfields in an 18-cm band at planting at 0.73 kg a.i. per hectare. Effects of isazofos on wildlife were evaluated by searching treated fields and adjacent areas for carcasses and monitoring...

Presence of pesticide residues in animal tissues and inhibition of brain cholinesterase (ChE) activity are often used to document exposure of animals to organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides and determine if the animal's death resulted from exposure. Carcasses found during field studies can be several days old; therefore, it is important to d...

Providing large quantities of insects and green vegetation is important for maintaining high survival and growth in juvenile Centrocercus urophasianus. Feeding sagebrush may be required to maintain adult birds over winter. -from Authors

We evaluated the influence of insect reductions on survival of sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) chicks with 148 captive individuals aged 2-45 days when treatment began. Captive sage grouse chicks 21 days old required insects for optimum development. Quantity of insects in the diet was correlated with sage grouse chick survival and growth.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wyoming, 1987. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [86]-98).

We estimate that from 500 million to possibly over 1 billion birds are killed annually in the United States due to anthropogenic sources including collisions with human-made structures such as vehicles, buildings and windows, power lines, communication towers, and wind turbines; electrocutions; oil spills and other con-taminants; pesticides; cat pr...