SARATOGA, CA, January 17, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dave S. Johnston has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. Johnston is a distinguished associate wildlife ecologist and bat biologist at H. T. Harvey and Associates, where he has been contributing his expertise since 1997. His research has significantly advanced the understanding of foraging behavior and mitigating potential impacts on bats, particularly concerning bats' interaction with transportation and renewable energy projects. He has also studied bats' dietary preferences across different habitats and found bats in a more homogeneous climate had individually specialized diets while those in a more heterogeneous climate were not specialized.

In addition to his role at H. T. Harvey and Associates, Dr. Johnston was an adjunct professor at San Jose State University for many years and a lecturer at Santa Clara University from 2002 to 2004. His career also includes a significant tenure as the executive director of the Youth Science Institute (YSI) from 1979 to 1995, where he expanded the institute's program and budget by tenfold and founded two additional nature centers in Santa Clara County, California. He has also led natural history trips throughout California, parts of the Galapagos, the Andes, the Amazon Basin, and whale watching trips in Mexico.

In his early life, Dave Johnston spent countless hours appreciating a nearby perennial creek, where he would observe the behavior of many species of vertebrates and insects. As a middle school student, he became a member of YSI and received mentorship from Larry Moitozo. Later, Dr. Johnston met Dr. Brock Fenton, whose inspiring lecture motivated him to join Dr, Fenton's lab to explore new scientific opportunities as a PhD student, laying the foundation for his ongoing dedication to the ecology and conservation of bats.

Inspired by his formative experiences, Dr. Johnston began his academic journey with a Bachelor of Science in biology from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, followed by a Master of Science in ecology and evolutionary biology from San Jose State University. In 1997, Dr. Johnston earned a PhD in biology from York University, culminating in his extensive research and contributions to the fields of foraging ecology and conservation.

Throughout his career, Dr. Johnston has been recognized for his commitment to advancing conservation biology and communicating that to young audiences. He was inducted into Who's Who Among Young American Professionals and received an Institute of Museum Services grant for the exemplary educational programs he developed at YSI. Among other awards, he received two Outstanding Executive Director awards at YSI. Dr. Johnston has received scores of grants for his research and he is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Society of Mammalogists, the North American Society for Bat Research, The Wildlife Society Western Section, and serves as the Science Communications committee chair for GBatNet - Global Union of Bat Diversity Networks. Dr. Johnston has served on many NGO boards including the Western Bat Working Group,

Dr. Johnston has co-authored numerous publications that have had a profound impact on bat ecology and conservation. His notable works include "Bat Foraging Response to Introduced Fish in the Sierra Nevada," released in 2021, "Final Caltrans Bat Mitigation: A Guide to Developing Feasible and Effective Solutions," published in 2019 and "Resource Ephemerality Drives Social Foraging in Bats," released in 2018. Dr. Johnston's research has provided critical insights into how environmental changes affect bat populations and their foraging behaviors.

Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Johnston is deeply involved in global initiatives to promote bat conservation. As part of the Global Union of Bat Diversity Networks, Dr. Johnston is chair of the science communications committee, coordinating meetings with international collaborators. Among other projects, the group is organizing an event called "Year of the Bats 2027," which involves participants from 31 countries and aims to raise awareness about bat diversity and conservation efforts.

Dr. Johnston's devotion also extends to public art projects, such as creating a mosaic with bats pollinating flowers in Monteverde, Costa Rica, and collaborating on large-scale international projects with university professors. Looking ahead, he plans to launch "Team Chiroptera," engaging school groups in bat-related projects and encouraging them to present their findings at scientific conferences. Moreover, Dr. Johnston intends to continue exploring the foraging ecology of bats, provide creative means of reducing impacts to bats from anthropogenic developments, and continue sharing his knowledge and research with the scientific community, the public, and young audiences.

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