Elizabeth Johnson

Visiting Scientist

Email:

ejohnsonSPAMFILTER@amnh.org

Phone:

212-769-5047

Research Interests

Elizabeth Johnson is the CBC Manager of the Metropolitan Biodiversity Program. Liz joined the Museum staff in 1997 and is responsible for applying the scientific expertise of the Museum to conservation issues region-wide. She is particularly interested in raising awareness about biodiversity in urban and suburban areas and has also focused attention on invertebrate conservation. Liz worked with colleagues from the Museum's Division of Invertebrate Zoology and the Central Park Conservancy to conduct a survey of the leaf-litter invertebrates in the Park's woodlands, which led to the discovery of a centipede species new to science. More recently, she and colleagues from the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Greenbelt Native Plant Center have been studying New York City's native bee fauna, with the help of citizen science volunteers. She also coordinated a multi-year New York State Biodiversity Assessment Project working with key conservation partners and has worked to strengthen the use of biodiversity information in land use planning. Liz currently serves on the advisory boards of the New Jersey Natural Areas Council, the Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education, Nature Network, and is a member of the New York State Biodiversity Research Institute science working group. Before coming to the Museum, Liz was Director of Science and Stewardship for The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey.

Publications

• Johnson, E. A. 2011. Wildlife of the Highlands. In: The Highlands: Treasured Landscapes, Critical Resources. Ed. Richard G. Lathrop. Rutgers University Press: New Brunswick.
• Johnson, E. A. and K. M. Catley. 2009. Urban soil ecology as a focal point for environmental education. Urban Ecosystems 12:1 79-93.
• Johnson, E. A. 2007.  A Seasonal Guide to New York City's Invertebrates. Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, New York.
• Johnson, E. A., and T. McPhearson. 2007.  Protecting Nature in Your Community. Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, New York.
• Johnson, E. A., and D. Smith, eds. 2006.  Legacy: Conserving New York State's Biodiversity. American Museum of Natural History, New York State Biodiversity Research Institute, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York Natural Heritage Program, and The Nature Conservancy, Albany, NY.
• Johnson, E. A., and M. W. Klemens, eds. 2005.  Nature in Fragments: The Legacy of Sprawl. Columbia University Press, New York. 
• Johnson, E. A., and K. M. Catley. 2002.  Life in the Leaf Litter. Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, New York.