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Division:
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CB
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Status:
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Federal, NOAA Fisheries
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Job Title:
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Research Fishery Biologist
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Phone:
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206-860-3253
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Email:
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send e-mail
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Programs:
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Teams:
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NWFSC Publications
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Background
Orlay Johnson is a research fishery biologist in the Center's Conservation Biology Division. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Washington and holds undergraduate degrees from Drew/Duke University and a MS from the University of Idaho. Orlay has worked for NOAA since the early 1980s. Prior to joining the NWFSC, Orlay was a teacher in the San Juan Islands, WA and a biologist at The Seattle Aquarium.
At the Center, Orlay initially worked on field studies related to the genetics and migration of chinook and steelhead in the Snake River, Idaho. In 1990, he was appointed Endangered Species Coordinator for the NWFC and served as team leader for several Endangered Species Act (ESA) status reviews and as a member of the Biological Review Team which evaluated the risk of extinction of salmon populations under the ESA.
Current Research
Orlay's research interests include the broad arena of genetics, ecology, and evolution of Pacific salmonids. Currently his research focuses on early warning indicators of genetic and environmental problems in salmonid populations as expressed by measures of developmental instability. Orlay is particularly interested in the use of phenotypic characters, especially fluctuating asymmetry (small, random departures from perfect symmetry) as a measure of population stability. He is also interested in conducting studies on the impact of environmental disturbance (dam removal, supplementation, water shortages, and climate change) on fish population and ecosystem stability and maintains an ongoing interest in polyploidy.
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