Lab 2, Room 3
Box: 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd.
Beaufort, NC 28516
Phone: (252)504-7629
Fax: (252)504-7648
E-mail: lw32@duke.edu

Research Interests:

• Marine Mammal Communication
• Animal Behavior
• Acoustics
• Conservation

Education:

• M.S. Marine Biology, UNC Wilmington, 2005
  
• B.S. Marine Biology, UNC Wilmington, 2001

Bio:
My dissertation research focuses on using passive acoustic techniques to determine the distribution and abundance patterns of vocalizing odontocete species in Onslow Bay, NC. I am also working on a project to develop a real-time acoustic monitoring unit that will automatically detect whistling bottlenose dolphins encountering an area in Pamlico Sound, NC, used by the Marine Corps for training exercises.

I did my master's research on manatee vocalizations and behavior and my undergraduate research on bottlenose dolphin signature whistles.

Publications:

• D.W. Johnston, M.E. Chapla, L.E. Williams, and D.K. Mattila. 2007. Identification of humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae wintering habitat in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands using spatial habitat modeling. Endangered Species Research. 3: 249-257.

Hobbies:
I enjoy working logic puzzles, reading mysteries, traveling, and spending time with my quite large cat.