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Michelle A. Johnston, B.S.
Education
2007 (Expected)
- M.S., Environmental Health Sciences, University
of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
2000 - B.S., Marine Biology, University of North
Carolina Wilmington,
(UNCW), Wilmington, NC
Research
My overall research interests
include endangered species protection and wildlife conservation, habitat
preservation, and coastal zone management.
My Master's research involves
determining if fecal contamination from American alligators (Alligator
mississippiensis) is a concern in water quality degradation
throughout the coastal zone of South Carolina. Due to large numbers of
American alligators inhabiting stormwater ponds within the South Carolina
coastal zone, fecal bacterial output into the environment may be
significant. Fecal coliform bacteria is being isolated from the cloaca
and feces of the American alligator to determine if fecal contamination
is a concern in water quality degradation throughout the coastal zone of
South Carolina. Bacterial source tracking molecular techniques, such as
ribotyping, will be used to differentiate between potential sources of
bacterial pollution. Since fecal coliform numbers are used as a water
quality standard, findings regarding whether or not alligator fecal
sources impair surface water quality will enhance the development of
effective watershed models, improve TMDLs, and aid in the regulation of
shellfish harvests. (Basically I am going about my research Crocodile
Hunter style by catching gators in the marsh - Crikey!).
Due to the uniqueness of my
project, an exceptional mix of personnel has been developed to enhance
the collaborative effort of this research. My thesis committee includes:
Dr. Dwayne E. Porter (University of South
Carolina) - Chair
Dr. Geoffrey I. Scott (NOAA-CCEHBR / University of South Carolina)
Walt Rhodes (South Carolina Department of
Natural Resources)
Laura Webster (NOAA-CCEHBR)
Interests
Surfing, scuba diving, running, hiking,
traveling, music, animals, wildlife conservation, my love of being a
vinyasa yoga instructor, and of course, sea turtles! I am also currently
the ENHS Graduate School Organization coordinator.
Projects
¨
Urbanization of Southeastern Estuaries (USES) - NOAA
¨
Coastal Resiliency Information Systems Initiative for
the Southeast (CRISIS) - USC
Biographical
Information
I grew up in a small town in
central Ohio
and knew from a very young age that I wanted to study marine biology. I
was a very lucky child in that my family took me on many trips to the
Florida Keys, Bahamas,
and Caribbean so I could scuba dive. I
knew that I needed to get out of Ohio to
pursue my dream, so I decided to attend the University
of North Carolina Wilmington for
their nationally ranked Marine Biology program and because Wrightsville Beach was only five minutes from
campus!
My time at UNCW was
everything I hoped it could be and more. I became a beach bum and surfing
addict, and started out with the usual goal that most marine biologists
have - wanting to work with dolphins. However, I soon realized this was
not for me. I had the opportunity at the beginning of my freshman year to
volunteer at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center,
where I was able to nurture back to health a loggerhead named Coquina,
who had a severe boat propeller wound on her head. I fell in love with
sea turtles, and after that I was hooked. I became the UNCW crew leader
at the Sea Turtle Hospital and dedicated myself to protecting these
endangered reptiles. My position at the sea turtle hospital continues to
be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The devoted
volunteers at the hospital will be part of my "turtle family"
forever, and my relationship with the turtles continues to grow. I feel
very passionate about these creatures and will continue to educate others
and protect them, as well as their habitat, for the rest of my life. Jean
Beasley, director of the hospital, helped me obtain valuable internships
such as an aquarium intern at Walt Disney World's Living Seas Aquarium
and as a sea turtle field biologist at USCB's Pritchards
Island.
During my time at UNCW, I was
also fortunate enough to work as an honors student in Dr. Ileana Clavijo's Marine Ornamental Culture Lab, working on a
variety of projects including diet studies with Percula clownfish (Amphiprion
percula)...that's right, Nemo! In 2004, I
graduated with honors from the University
of North Carolina Wilmington
with a BS degree in Marine Biology.
I decided for graduate school
that I needed to step outside of my comfort zone and do something
different while still being able to stay in the Carolinas.
After meeting Dr. Dwayne Porter and the students in his Geographic
Information Processing Laboratory (GIP Lab), I knew that USC was the
right place for me. Thanks to Dr. Porter, my studies continue on here in
the Environmental Health Sciences department. I am learning many new
skills, such as GIS and remote sensing, and have been able to network and
perform research with wonderful people from the DNR and NOAA. My research
focus for my Master's thesis has switched from one reptile to another in
that I am now working with alligators! My courage has been tested, but I
absolutely love being out in the field and working with these animals.
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