Associate Professor Ron Johnstone
Associate Professor
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
+61 7 336 53978
Chamberlain Building (35), Room 528
Researcher biography
Prior to his current position, A/Prof Johnstone served as deputy director of the Centre for Marine Studies at the University of Queensland for 5 years, as well as the Assessment and Monitoring theme leader in the Coastal CRC, and as a member of the scientific advisory committee for CRC Reef. He has a long professional history in coastal nutrient and ecosystem function research, as well as in the communication of science to the community, government, and private sector bodies. In addition, A/Prof Johnstone has a longstanding international reputation in his field, having spent approximately 20 years undertaking CZM research and project management in over 13 countries on behalf of government and international donor agencies including IOC-UNESCO, Sida, and the World Bank.
Within Australia, A/Prof Johnstone’s work is focussed on the understanding of benthic habitats, with an emphasis on nutrient processes and dynamics in coastal ecosystems. This includes aspects such as the influence of land-based inputs on coastal ecosystem function and its influence on specific outcomes such as toxic algal blooms.
Journal Articles
Trevathan, Jarrod and Johnstone, Ron (2018) Smart environmental monitoring and assessment technologies (SEMAT)- a new paradigm for low-cost, remote aquatic environmental monitoring. Sensors, 18 7: . doi:10.3390/s18072248
Kotir, Julius H. , Brown, Greg, Marshall, Nadine and Johnstone, Ron (2017) Drivers of change and sustainability in linked social–ecological systems: an analysis in the Volta river basin of Ghana, West Africa. Society and Natural Resources, 30 10: 1-17. doi:10.1080/08941920.2017.1290182
Kotir, Julius H., Brown, Greg, Marshall, Nadine and Johnstone, Ron (2017) Systemic feedback modelling for sustainable water resources management and agricultural development: an application of participatory modelling approach in the Volta River Basin. Environmental Modelling and Software, 88 106-118. doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2016.11.015
Kotir, Julius H., Smith, Carl, Brown, Greg, Marshall, Nadine and Johnstone, Ron (2016) A system dynamics simulation model for sustainable water resources management and agricultural development in the Volta River Basin, Ghana. Science of the Total Environment, 573 444-457. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.08.081
Simpson, Shay, Brown, Greg, Peterson, Ann and Johnstone, Ron (2016) Stakeholder perspectives for coastal ecosystem services and influences on value integration in policy. Ocean and Coastal Management, 126 9-21. doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2016.03.009
Hanington, Peter, Rose, Andrew and Johnstone, Ron (2016) The potential of benthic iron and phosphorus fluxes to support the growth of a bloom forming toxic cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula, Moreton Bay, Australia. Marine Freshwater Research, 67 12: 1918-1927. doi:10.1071/MF15219
Thornton, Stephen Ryan and Johnstone, Ron William (2015) Mangrove rehabilitation in high erosion areas: assessment using bioindicators. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 165 176-184. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2015.05.013
Hanington, Peter, Hunnam, Kimberley and Johnstone, Ron (2015) Widespread loss of the seagrass Syringodium isoetifolium after a major flood event in Moreton Bay, Australia: implications for benthic processes. Aquatic Botany, 120 PB: 244-250. doi:10.1016/j.aquabot.2014.09.002
Camilieri-Asch, Victoria, Kempster, Ryan M., Collin, Shaun P., Johnstone, Ron W. and Theiss, Susan M. (2013) A comparison of the electrosensory morphology of a euryhaline and a marine stingray. Zoology, 116 5: 270-276. doi:10.1016/j.zool.2013.05.002
Trevathan, Jarrod, Johnstone, Ron, Chiffings, Tony, Atkinson, Ian, Bergmann, Neil, Read, Wayne, Theiss, Susan, Myers, Trina and Stevens, Tom (2012) SEMAT - The next generation of inexpensive marine environmental monitoring and measurement systems. Sensors, 12 7: 9711-9748. doi:10.3390/s120709711
Garcia, Rosa, Johnstone, Ron W. and Rueda, Jose L. (2012) Port disturbance of the meiofauna and sediment biogeochemistry at the mouth of the Brisbane River, eastern Australia. Cahiers De Biologie Marine, 53 1: 95-112.
Skinner, Mark P., Brewer, Tom D., Johnstone, Ron, Fleming, Lora E. and Lewis, Richard J. (2011) Ciguatera fish poisoning in the Pacific Islands (1998 - 2008). PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 5 12: e1416.1-e1416.7. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0001416
Wulff, F, Eyre, BD and Johnstone, R (2011) Nitrogen versus phosphorus limitation in a subtropical coastal embayment (Moreton Bay; Australia): Implications for management. Ecological Modelling, 222 1: 120-130. doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2010.08.040
O'Neill, Michael F., Campbell, Alexander B., Brown, Ian W. and Johnstone, Ron (2010) Using catch rate data for simple cost-effective quota setting in the Australian spanner crab (Ranina ranina) fishery. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 67 8: 1538-1552. doi:10.1093/icesjms/fsq095
Holmes, G. and Johnstone, R. W. (2010) The role of coral mortality in nitrogen dynamics on coral reefs. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology And Ecology, 387 1-2: 1-8. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2010.03.006
Holmes, G. and Johnstone, R. W. (2010) Modelling coral reef ecosystems with limited observational data. Ecological Modelling, 221 8: 1173-1183. doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2010.01.010
Myers, Trina S., Atkinson, Ian and Johnstone, Ron (2010) Supporting coral reef ecosystems research through modelling a reusable ontology framework. Applied Artificial Intelligence, 24 1-2: 77-101. doi:10.1080/08839510903448676
Holmes, G., Ortiz, J., Kaniewska, P. and Johnstone, R.W. (2008) Using three-dimensional surface area to compare the growth of two Pocilloporid coral species. Marine Biology, 155 4: 421-427. doi:10.1007/s00227-008-1040-x
Arquitt, S. and Johnstone, R. (2008) Use of system dynamics modelling in design of an environmental restoration banking institution. Ecological Economics, 65 1: 63-75. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2007.05.013
Davey, M., Holmes, G. and Johnstone, R. (2008) High rates of nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) on coral skeletons following bleaching mortality. Coral Reefs, 27 1: 227-238. doi:10.1007/s00338-007-0316-9
Lesser, M. P., Bythell, J. C., Gates, R. D., Johnstone, R. W. and Hoegh-Guldberg, O. (2007) Are infectious diseases really killing corals? Alternative interpretations of the experimental and ecological data. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 346 1-2: 36-44. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2007.02.015
Hamilton, G. S., Fielding, F., Chiffings, A. W., Hart, B. T., Johnstone, R. W. and Mengersen, K. R. (2007) Investigating the Use of a Bayesian Network to Model the Risk of Lyngbya majuscula Bloom Initiation in Deception Bay, Queensland, Australia. Human And Ecological Risk Assessment, 13 6: 1271-1287. doi:10.1080/10807030701655616
Garcia, Rosa and Johnstone, Ron W. (2006) Effects of Lyngbya majuscula (Cyanophycea) blooms on sediment nutrients and meiofaunal assemblages in seagrass beds in Moreton Bay, Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research, 57 2: 155-165. doi:10.1071/MF05053
Cox, Melanie E., Johnstone, Ron and Robinson, Jackie (2006) Relationships between perceived coastal waterway condition and social aspects of quality of life. Ecology and Society, 11 1: .
Werner, Ursula, Bird, Paul, Wild, Christian, Ferdelman, Timothy, Polerecky, Lubos, Eickert, Gabriele, Jonstone, Ron, Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove and de Beer, Dirk (2006) Spatial patterns of aerobic and anaerobic mineralization rates and oxygen penetration dynamics in coral reef sediments. Marine Ecology-progress Series, 309 March: 93-105. doi:10.3354/meps309093
Pillans, S., Pillans, R. D., Johnstone, R. W., Kraft, P. G., Haywood, M. D. E. and Possingham, Hugh P. (2005) Effects of marine reserve protection on the mud crap Scylla serrata in a sex-biased fishery in subtropical Australia. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 295 201-213. doi:10.3354/meps295201
Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove, Fine, Maoz, Skirving, William, Johnstone, Ron, Dove, Sophie and Strong, Alan (2005) Coral bleaching following wintry weather. Limnology And Oceanography, 50 1: 265-271. doi:10.4319/lo.2005.50.1.0265
Bennett, J., Lawrance, P., Johnstone, R. W. and Shaw, R. J. (2005) Adaptive management and its role in managing Great Barrier Reef water quality. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 50 1-4: 70-75. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2004.10.034
Wild, Christian, Rasheed, Mohammed, Werner, Ursula, Franke, Ulrich, Johnstone, Ron and Huettel, Markus (2004) Degradation and mineralization of coral mucus in reef environments. Marine Ecology - Progress Series, 267 2004: 159-171. doi:10.3354/meps267159
Arquitt, S. P. and Johnstone, R. W. (2004) A scoping and consensus building model of a toxic blue-green algae bloom. System Dynamics Review, 2 2: 179-198. doi:10.1002/sdr.292
Mohammed, S. and Johnstone, R.W. (2002) Porewater nutrient profiles and nutrient sediement-water exchange in a tropical mangrove waterway, Mapopwe Creek, Chwaka Bay, Zanzibar. African Journal of Ecology, 40 2: 172-178-178. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2028.2002.00364.x
Conference Papers
Pirisi, A., Grimaccia, F., Mussetta, M., Zich, R.E., Johnstone, R., Palaniswami, M. and Rajasegarar, S. (2013). Optimization of an energy harvesting buoy for coral reef monitoring. In: 2013 IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation, CEC 2013. 2013 IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation, CEC 2013, Cancun, Mexico, (629-634). 20-23 June 2013. doi:10.1109/CEC.2013.6557627
Grimaccia, Francesco, Johnstone, Ron, Mussetta, Marco, Pirisi, Andrea and Zich, Riccardo E. (2012). Evolutionary techniques for sensor networks energy optimization in marine environmental monitoring. In: Bormin Huang and Antonio J. Plaza, High-Performance Computing in Remote Sensing II. Proceedings. SPIE Remote Sensing 2012, Edinburgh, UK, (85390H.1-85390H.8). 24-27 September, 2012. doi:10.1117/12.974631
Lee, Yong Jin, Trevathan, Jarrod, Atkinson, Ian, Read, Wayne, Myers, Trina and Johnstone, Ron (2011). The evolution of the SEMAT sensor network management system. In: 2011 Seventh International Conference on Intelligent Sensors, Sensor Networks and Information Processing (ISSNIP 2011). Proceedings. ISSNIP 2011: 7th International Conference on Intelligent Sensors, Sensor Networks and Information Processing, Adelaide, SA, Australia, (229-234). 6-9 December, 2011. doi:10.1109/ISSNIP.2011.6146633
Bajema, Nigel B., Trevathan, Jarrod, Bergmann, Neil W., Atkinson, Ian, Read, Wayne, Scarr, Adam, Lee, Yong Jin and Johnstone, Ron (2011). Benefits of building wireless sensor networks on commodity hardware and software stacks. In: 2011 Seventh International Conference on Intelligent Sensors, Sensor Networks and Information Processing (ISSNIP). 2011 Seventh International Conference on Intelligent Sensors, Sensor Networks and Information Processing (ISSNIP), Adelaide, Australia, (282-287). 6-9 December 2011. doi:10.1109/ISSNIP.2011.6146554
Trevathan, Jarrod, Atkinson, Ian, Read, Wayne, Bajema, Nigel, Lee, Yong Jin, Scarr, Adam and Johnstone, Ron (2010). Developing low-cost intelligent wireless sensor networks for aquatic environments. In: Slaven Marusic, Marimuthu Palaniswami, Jayavardhana Gubbi and P. Corke, ISSNIP 2010: Proceedings of the 2010 Sixth International Conference on Intelligent Sensors, Sensor Networks and Information Processing. ISSNIP 2010 Sixth International Conference on Intelligent Sensors, Sensor Networks and Information Processing, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, (13-18). 7-10 December, 2010. doi:10.1109/ISSNIP.2010.5706800
Cella, Umberto M., Shuley, Nicholas and Johnstone, Ron (2010). Wireless sensor networks in coastal marine environments: A case study outcome. In: WUWNet '09: Proceedings of the Fourth ACM International Workshop on UnderWater Networks. 4th ACM International Workshop on UnderWater Networks (WUWNet 2009), Berkeley, California, United States, (). 3 November 2009. doi:10.1145/1654130.1654138
Lee, Yong Jin, Trevathan, Jarrod, Atkinson, Ian, Read, Wayne, Bajema, Nigel, Scarr, Adam, Braun, Jochen, Knisch, Andreas, Seemann, Andreas and Johnstone, Ron (2010). Real time data streaming in sensor networks: integrating SAL with the RBNB Data Turbine. In: Slaven Marusic, M. Palaniswami, J. Gubbi and P. Corke, 2010 Sixth International Conference on Intelligent Sensors, Sensor Networks and Information Processing (ISSNIP 2010). ISSNIP 2010: Sixth International Conference on Intelligent Sensors, Sensor Networks and Information Processing, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, (163-168). 7-10 December, 2010. doi:10.1109/ISSNIP.2010.5706801
Myers, Trina S., Atkinson, Ian M. and Johnstone, Ron (2010). Semantically enabling the SEMAT Project: Extending marine sensor networks for decision support and hypothesis testing. In: Leonard Barolli, Fatos Xhafa, Salvatore Vitabile and Hui-Huang Hsu, Proceedings of the International Conference on Complex, Intelligent, and Software Intensive Systems. CISIS 2010, The Fourth International Conference on Complex, Intelligent and Software Intensive Systems, Krakow, Poland, (974-979). 15-18 February 2010. doi:10.1109/CISIS.2010.46
Cella, Umberto M., Johnstone, Ron and Shuley, Nicholas (2009). Electromagnetic wave wireless communication in shallow water coastal environment: Theoretical analysis and experimental results. In: Jim Preisig and Curt Schurger, Proceedings of the fourth ACM International Workshop on Underwater Networks. The 4th ACM International Workshop on UnderWater Networks, Berkeley, California, USA, (). 3-6 November 2009. doi:10.1145/1654130.1654139
Johnstone, Ron, Caputo, David, Cella, Umberto, Gandelli, Alessandro, Alippi, Cesare, Grimaccia, Francesco, Haritos, N. and Zich, Riccardo E. (2008). Smart Environmental Measurement and Analysis Technologies (SEMAT): Wireless sensor networks in the marine environment. In: Proceedings of: Wireless Sensor and Actuator Network Research on Opposite Sides of the Globe. Wireless Sensor and Actuator Network Research on Opposite Sides of the Globe (SENSEI), Stockholm, Sweden, (). 9 June 2008.
Myers, Trina S., Atkinson, Ian and Johnstone, Ron (2008). Supporting coral reef ecosystems research through modelling re-usable ontologies. In: Thomas Meyer and Mehmet A. Orgun, Proceedings of Conferences in Research and Practice in Information Technology (CRPIT). Knowledge Representation Ontology Workshop, Sydney, Australia, (). 15-18 September 2008.
Cella U., Chiffings T., Gandelli A., Grimaccia F., Johnstone R.W. and Zich R.E. (2007). Advanced monitoring systems for biological applications in marine environments. In: Biomedical Applications of Micro- and Nanoengineering III. Biomedical Applications of Micro- and Nanoengineering III, Adelaide, (). December 11, 2006-December 13, 2006. doi:10.1117/12.695811
Cox, Melanie, Johnstone, Ron and Robinson, J. (2004). A Conceptual Model of Impacts of Environmental Change on Human Well-Being. In: Albrecht, G., The Airs Waters Places Transdiscplinary Conference on Ecosystem Health in Australia, Newcastle, Australia, (129-145). April, 2003.
Pillans, Suzanne, Johnstone, Ron, Possingham, Hugh, Pillans, Richard, Dews, Geoff and McPhail, Ian (2004). Effectiveness of No-Take Marine Reserves in Subtropical Australia. In: Munro, N. W. P., Deardon, P., Herman, T. B., Beazley, K and Bondrup-Nielson, K., Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Science and the Management of Protected Areas. Fifth International Conference on Science and the Mangement of Protected Areas, Victoria, Canada, (1-8). 11-16 May, 2003.
Cox, M., Johnstone, R. and Robinson, J. J. (2004). Assessing the Social and Economic Impacts of Changes in Coastal Ecosystems. In: Mowlaei, M. J., Rose, A. and Lamborn, J., 7th Annual Environmental Research Conference Environmental Sustainability Through Multidisciplinary Integration. Environmental Sustainability throught Multidisciplinary Integr, The Cumberland, Marysville, Victoria, (68-77). 1-4 December 2003.
Skinner, M. P., Lewis, R. J., Johnstone, Ron W. and Shaw, G. R. (2004). The Ecotoxicology of a benthic HAB (Prorocentrum) bloom, nutrients and ciguatera, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. In: Harmful Algae. XIth International Conference on Harmful Algae, Cape Town, South Africa, (235-235). 14-19 November, 2004.
Cox, Melanie E., Johnstone, Ron and Robinson, Jackie (2004). Assessing the Social and Economic Impacts of Changes in Coastal Systems. In: Mowlaei, M. J., Rose, Andrew and Lamborn, Julia, Environmental Sustainability through Multidisciplinary Integration. Proceedings of the 7th Annual Environmental Research Conference, Marysville, Victoria, (68-77). 1-4 December, 2003.
Cox, Melanie E., Johnstone, Ron and Robinson, Jackie (2004). Effects of Coastal Recreation on Social Aspects of Human Well-being. In: Proceedings of the Coastal Zone Asia Pacific Conference 2004: Improving the Quality of Life in Coastal Areas, Brisbane, Australia, (156-162). 5-9 September, 2004.
Cox, M., Johnstone, Ron W. and Robinson, J. J. (2003). A conceptual model of impacts of environmental change on human well-being: Assessing the Social Economic impacts of change in coastal ecosystems. In: Proceedings of the Airs Waters Places Transdisciplinary conference on ecosystem health in Australia. Airs Waters Places Transdisciplinary Conference on Ecosystem Health in Australia, University of Newcastle, Australia, (68-77). 14-16 April 2003.
Mohammed, S., Johnstone, R.W., Widen, B. and Jordelius, E. (2001). The role of mangroves in nutrient cycling and productivity of adjacent seagrass communities Chawka Bay, Zanzibar. In: Richmond, D, Francis and Julius, Marine Science Development in Tanzania and Eastern Africa. 20th Annual conference on advances in Marine Science in Tanzaa, Zanzibar, Tanzinia, (205-226-226). 28 June-1 July 1999.
Johnstone, R. (2000). Enforcement of occupational health & safety statutes. In: WA Government, Minesafe International 2000. Minesafe International 2000 Conference, Perth, WA, (49-62). September, 2000.