A TRIBUTE TO THE CAREER OF NED K. JOHNSON: ENDURING STANDARDS THROUGH CHANGING TIMES

Ned K. Johnson (1932-2003) served as Curator of Birds and Professor of Zoology at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology (MVZ), University of California, Berkeley, from 1961 to his death in 2003. His distinguished career in ornithology included major contributions on various topics (e.g., geographic variation, biogeography, speciation, systematics, integration of molt and migration) that resulted in his receiving the Brewster Medal from the American Ornithologists' Union in 1992. With eight peer-reviewed short publications in print by the time he finished his undergraduate degree at the University of Nevada, Johnson launched into his doctoral program at MVZ under Alden H. Miller. His dissertation monograph on western flycatchers (Empidonax spp.) provided a model of meticulous, detailed empirical analyses that represented the epitome of its genre and presaged a remarkable series of investigations on the biogeography, speciation, and geographic variation of birds. He kept pace with technological advances throughout his career, from sonograms to complex multivariate statistics to spectrophotometry and molecular genetics. Johnson's advocacy of the importance of specimen-based research has been a bulwark of strength for museum ornithologists. His contribution to MVZ of >7,200 data-rich vertebrate specimens adds an important dimension to his legacy. Johnson's consistent approach to research, namely an unimpeachable empirical foundation for addressing critical conceptual issues, continues to inspire students and colleagues to match his standards. Received 23 January 2007, accepted 12 February 2007. Resumen.Ned K. Johnson (1932-2003) fue curador de aves y profesor de zoologia en el Museo de Zoologia de Vertebrados (MVZ), Universidad de California, Berkeley, desde 1961 hasta su muerte en 2003. Su distinguida carrera como ornitologo incluye importantes contribuciones en diversas areas (variaciones geograficas, biogeografia, especiacion, sistematica, relation entre muda y migration), siendo reconocido en 1992 con la medalla Brewster de la Union de Ornitologos Americanos. Johnson termino sus estudios de pregrado en la universidad de Nevada con ocho publicaciones en revistas de reconocido prestigio. Inmediatamente despues, comenzo el doctorado en el MVZ bajo la tutoria de Alden H. Miller. Su tesis sobre los papamoscas Empidonax presenta unos analisis empiricos minuciosos y detallados que constituyen un modelo en su genero, presagiando una importante serie de investigaciones sobre biogeografia, especiacion y variation geografica en aves. Johnson siguio de cerca los avances tecnologicos durante su carrera, empleando desde sonogramas a estadistica multivariante compleja, espectrofotometria o genetica molecular. La importancia que Johnson imprimio a la investigacion basada en especimenes de museo ha servido de plataforma para todos los ornitologos que trabajan con colecciones de museo. Su contribution al MVZ, con mas de 7,200 entradas de especies de vertebrados, confiere una importante dimension a su legado. Su metodo de investigacion, con una base empirica intachable a la hora de abordar cuestiones conceptuales criticas, continua inspirando y sirve de ejemplo a estudiantes y colegas. 3E-mail: najames@lsu.edu