
Overview
Background
A/Prof Stephen Johnston is a Reader in Reproduction (40% Teaching; 40% Research and 20% Service) in the School of Environment at the University of Queensland, where he teaches animal reproduction and captive husbandry to Bachelor of Wildlife Science and Science undergraduate and postgraduate students. He is current program coordinator for the Bachelor of Wildlife Science Program. He is also a research affiliate in the School of Veterinary Science. Stephen was trained as a zoologist and specialises in the area of reproductive biology in a broad diversity of species ranging from prawns to tigers but with a major focus on Australian mammals. A/Prof Johnston has published 300 scientific works in basic and applied science disciplines including reproductive anatomy, physiology and behaviour. He was the first person in the world to produce a pouch young following artificial insemination in a marsupial, a task that he and his colleagues have now carried out successfully in the koala, a total of 34 times. Stephen is also a specialist in the cryopreservation of marsupial spermatozoa and in the assessment of sperm DNA fragmentation, including human and domestic animal spermatozoa. A/Prof Johnston’s recent research interests and grant success include studies aimed at a better understanding of the effect of chlamydia on male koala reproduction, heat stress in koalas, sociobiology of koalas, genetic and reproductive management of koalas, wombat captive reproduction, echidna captive breeding, crocodile artificial insemination and prawn aquaculture. He is a Fellow of the Society for Reproductive Biology (2019)
Availability
- Associate Professor Steve Johnston is:
- Not available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Reproductive Biology of Wildlife
The study of fundamental (anatomy, physiology and behaviour) and applied biology of the reproduction of Australian fauna and exotic mammals
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Assessment of male human fertility
Studies centred around the assessment of sperm DNA fragmentation in human reproductive medicine
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Cryopreservation of spermatozoa
A study of the cryopreservation of spermatozoa of vertebrate species
Research impacts
For 25 years, A/Prof Johnston has been the leader in the development of assisted breeding technology in Australian native fauna, with a strong interest in marsupial reproduction. His successful koala artificial breeding technology has been incorporated into State Government Conservation Policy and Legislation. The koala assisted breeding technology, which he developed, is also currently been used by the Queensland Zoo industry for genetic exchange and there are plans to use the technology for the overseas export of koala sperm to Japan and the United States. This work has also received recent acknowledgement n the Koala Expert Panel Final Report to the Queensland Government (2018). He provides expert advice and consultancy to the (1) Zoo Industry - Dreamworld, Australia Zoo, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Taronga Zoo, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Rockhampton Zoo, Perth Zoo, Australian Animals Care and Education, Sea World, Paradise Country, San Diego Zoo, Australian Japan Wildlife Education Conservation Foundation, Japanese Zoo Industry (2) Production Animal Industry - Koorana Crocodile Farm, Ag Force – teacher education programs, Prawn and Aquaculture (DAFFI and CSIRO). He is a regular media commentator on wildlife related issues for TV and radio and has been involved with numerous documentaries on marsupial and monotreme reproduction including “Koala Miracle” by Lyndal Davies (1998) from Rock Wallaby Productions, (which featured his work on the successful artificial insemination of the koala) “Miracle babies” produced by National Geographic Channel (2012) - http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/wild/episodes/koala-dating-game1/ and morerecently, a new documentary “Born in the Wild” produced by Charlotte Hunt-Grubble from Windfall Films on my koala and echidna reproductive research.
Works
Search Professor Steve Johnston’s works on UQ eSpace
2017
Journal Article
Multi-centre assessment of nitroblue tetrazolium reactivity in human semen as a potential marker of oxidative stress
Gosalvez, Jaime, Coppola, Lamberto, Fernandez, Jose Luis, Lopez-Fernandez, Carmen, Gongora, Alfredo, Sanitso, Ricardo, Harrison, Keith, Agarwal, Ashok, Johnston, Stephen and Esteves, Sandro (2017). Multi-centre assessment of nitroblue tetrazolium reactivity in human semen as a potential marker of oxidative stress. Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 34 (5), 513-521. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2017.01.014
2017
Journal Article
Cryopreservation of saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) spermatozoa
Johnston, S. D., Qualischefski, E., Cooper, J., McLeod, R., Lever, J., Nixon, B., Anderson, A. L., Hobbs, R., Gosalvez, J., Lopez-Fernandez, C. and Keeley, T. (2017). Cryopreservation of saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) spermatozoa. Reproduction Fertility and Development, 29 (11), 2235-2244. doi: 10.1071/RD16511
2016
Journal Article
Phylogenetic diversity of koala retrovirus within a wild koala population
Chappell, K. J., Brealey, J. C., Amarilla, A. A., Watterson, D., Hulse, L., Palmieri, C., Johnston, S. D., Holmes, E. C., Meers, J. and Young, P. (2016). Phylogenetic diversity of koala retrovirus within a wild koala population. Journal of Virology, 91 (3) e01820-16, 363-374. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01820-16
2016
Journal Article
Whole extra-charged DNA spermatozoa in the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porous) ejaculate
Gosalvez, Jaime, Lopez-Fernandez, Carmen and Johnston, Stephen D. (2016). Whole extra-charged DNA spermatozoa in the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porous) ejaculate. The Herpetological Journal, 26 (4), 313-316.
2016
Journal Article
Formation and dissociation of sperm bundles in monotremes
Nixon, Brett, Ecroyd, Heath, Dacheux, Jean-Louis, Dacheux, Francoise, Labas, Valerie, Johnston, Stephen D. and Jones, Russell C. (2016). Formation and dissociation of sperm bundles in monotremes. Biology of Reproduction, 95 (4), 1-11. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.116.140491
2016
Journal Article
Long-term measurement of body temperature in the southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons)
Descovich, K. A., Johnston, S., Lisle, A., Nicolson, V., Janssen, T., Brooks, P. and Phillips, C. J. C. (2016). Long-term measurement of body temperature in the southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons). Australian Mammalogy, 39 (1), 48-55. doi: 10.1071/AM15041
2016
Journal Article
Reduced sperm DNA longevity is associated with an increased incidence of still born; evidence from a multi-ovulating sequential artificial insemination animal model
Johnston, Stephen, Lopez-Fernandez, Carmen, Arroyo, Francisca, Gosalbez, Altea, Cortes Gutierrez, Elva I., Fernandez, Jose-Luis and Gosalvez, Jaime (2016). Reduced sperm DNA longevity is associated with an increased incidence of still born; evidence from a multi-ovulating sequential artificial insemination animal model. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 33 (9), 1231-1238. doi: 10.1007/s10815-016-0754-9
2016
Journal Article
The Australian saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) provides evidence that the capacitation of spermatozoa may extend beyond the mammalian lineage
Nixon, Brett, Anderson, Amanda L., Smith, Nathan D., McLeod, Robby and Johnston, Stephen D. (2016). The Australian saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) provides evidence that the capacitation of spermatozoa may extend beyond the mammalian lineage. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 283 (1830) 20160495, 20160495. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2016.0495
2016
Journal Article
First report of a spermatic granuloma and varicocele in a marsupial: a Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) Case Study
Schultz, B. K., Palmieri, C., Nicolson, V., Larkin, R., Keeley, T., McGowan, M. and Johnston, S. (2016). First report of a spermatic granuloma and varicocele in a marsupial: a Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) Case Study. Research in Veterinary Science, 107, 30-33. doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2016.05.002
2016
Journal Article
Three-dimensional reconstruction of black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) spermatozoa using serial block-face scanning electron microscopy
Feng, Tianyi, Paterson, Brian D., Webb, Robyn Webb and Johnston, Stephen D. (2016). Three-dimensional reconstruction of black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) spermatozoa using serial block-face scanning electron microscopy. Journal of Morphology, 277 (5), 565-574. doi: 10.1002/jmor.20518
2016
Journal Article
Surgical implantation of temperature-sensitive transmitters and data-loggers to record body temperature in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)
Adam, D., Johnston, S. D., Beard, L., Nicholson, V., Lisle, A., Gaughan, J., Larkin, R., Theilemann, P., Mckinnon, A. and Ellis, W. (2016). Surgical implantation of temperature-sensitive transmitters and data-loggers to record body temperature in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). Australian Veterinary Journal, 94 (1-2), 42-47. doi: 10.1111/avj.12393
2016
Conference Publication
Chlamydia infection in males; an underappreciated problem
Kollipara, A., Bryan, E., Trimm, L., Carey, A., McLaughlin, E., Johnston, S. and Beagley, K. (2016). Chlamydia infection in males; an underappreciated problem. 13th Congress of the International-Society-for-Immunology-of-Reproduction (ISIR) and the European-Society-for-Reproductive-Immunology (ESRI), Erfurt, Germany, 22-25 June 2016. CLARE: ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD. doi: 10.1016/j.jri.2016.04.160
2015
Journal Article
Stallion sperm quality after combined ejaculate fractionation and colloidal centrifugation
Crespo, Francisco, Gosálvez, Jaime, Johnston, Stephen D. and de la Torre, Joaquina (2015). Stallion sperm quality after combined ejaculate fractionation and colloidal centrifugation. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 13 (4) e04SC02, e04SC02.1-e04SC02.6. doi: 10.5424/sjar/2015134-8108
2015
Journal Article
The assessment of sperm DNA fragmentation in the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)
Johnston, S. D., Lopez-Fernandez, C., Arroyo, F., Fernandez, J. L. and Gosalvez, J. (2015). The assessment of sperm DNA fragmentation in the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 29 (3), 630-636. doi: 10.1071/RD15300
2015
Journal Article
Non-invasive urine collection in the female southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) with the aid of classical conditioning
Swinbourne, Alyce M., Janssen, Tina, Phillips, Clive J. C. and Johnston, Stephen D. (2015). Non-invasive urine collection in the female southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) with the aid of classical conditioning. Zoo Biology, 34 (1), 89-93. doi: 10.1002/zoo.21171
2015
Journal Article
Unpacking the mysteries of sperm DNA fragmentation: Ten frequently asked questions
Gosalvez, J., Lopez-Fernandez, C., Fernandez, J.L., Esteves, S.C. and Johnston, S.D. (2015). Unpacking the mysteries of sperm DNA fragmentation: Ten frequently asked questions. Journal of Reproductive Biotechnology and Fertility, 4, 1-16. doi: 10.1177/2058915815594454
2015
Journal Article
Seasonal oestrous cycle activity of captive female koalas in south-east Queensland
Ballantyne, K., Lisle, A., Mucci, A. and Johnston, S. D. (2015). Seasonal oestrous cycle activity of captive female koalas in south-east Queensland. Australian Mammalogy, 37 (2), 245-252. doi: 10.1071/AM14018
2015
Journal Article
The role of bioacoustic signals in koala sexual selection: Insights from seasonal patterns of associations revealed with GPSProximity units
Ellis, William, FitzGibbon, Sean, Pye, Geoff, Whipple, Bill, Barth, Ben, Johnston, Stephen, Seddon, Jenny, Melzer, Alistair, Higgins, Damien and Bercovitch, Fred (2015). The role of bioacoustic signals in koala sexual selection: Insights from seasonal patterns of associations revealed with GPSProximity units. PLoS ONE, 10 (7) e0130657, e0130657. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130657
2015
Journal Article
A comparison of sperm DNA damage in the neat ejaculate of sperm donors and males presenting for their initial seminogram
Gosálvez, Jaime, Fernández, José-Luis, Yaniz, Jesus, de la Casa, Moises, López- Fernández, Carmen and Johnston, Stephen (2015). A comparison of sperm DNA damage in the neat ejaculate of sperm donors and males presenting for their initial seminogram. Austin Journal of Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, 2 (3), 1014.1-1014.4.
2015
Journal Article
Plasma prolactin concentrations during lactation, pouch young development and the return to behavioural oestrus in captive koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)
Ballantyne, K., Anderson, S. T., Mucci, A., Nicolson, V. and Johnston, S. D. (2015). Plasma prolactin concentrations during lactation, pouch young development and the return to behavioural oestrus in captive koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). Reproduction Fertility and Development, 28 (11), 1838-1843. doi: 10.1071/RD14384
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Steve Johnston is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of Monotreme and Marsupial Accessory Glands
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Chiara Palmieri, Dr Taylor Pini
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Doctor Philosophy
Hatching out the secrets of female monotreme reproductive biology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Chiara Palmieri, Dr Taylor Pini
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Doctor Philosophy
The Development and Application of Assisted Breeding Technology for theConservation of Avian wildlife
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bob Doneley, Dr Taylor Pini
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Doctor Philosophy
Novel strategies for marsupial genetic preservation and in vitro embryo production
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Andres Gambini
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Doctor Philosophy
Novel methods for improving in vitro production of bovine embryos
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Andres Gambini
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
New insights into the reproductive physiology of female short-beaked echidnas
Principal Advisor
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
The effect of Chlamydia on male koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) fertility
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Chiara Palmieri
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
The effect of heat stress on testicular thermoregulation in the bovine
Principal Advisor
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
The establishment of a Living Genome Resource Bank utilising genetic analysis and assisted breeding technology: a case study on the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)
Principal Advisor
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Spermatogenesis and Sperm Assessment in the Black Tiger Prawn, Penaeus monodon
Principal Advisor
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
The use of urine as a tool to analyse the reproductive function of captive female southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons)
Principal Advisor
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2018
Master Philosophy
The assessment of reproductive function, behaviour and adrenal physiology in captive male southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons)
Principal Advisor
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
New insights into the Reproductive Physiology and Management of the Female Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus): Factors affecting the control of the oestrous cycle
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Stephen Anderson
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
The Novel Reproductive Biology of Flying-foxes (Pteropus spp.): Implications for the Development of Assisted Reproductive Technologies
Principal Advisor
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2012
Master Philosophy
Chlamydial Disease of the Male Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) Reproductive Tract
Principal Advisor
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
Refinement of Artificial Insemination Program in the Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) with an Emphasis on Male Factor Fertility
Principal Advisor
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
Functional Approaches to the Development of Koala Sperm Cryopreservation Techniques
Principal Advisor
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2005
Master Philosophy
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF THE MALE AND FEMALE COMMON WOMBAT, Vombatus ursinus: STUDIES TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ARTIFICAL INSEMINATION PROTOCAL
Principal Advisor
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the koala retrovirus epidemic: genetic diversity, transmission and immunogenicity
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Keith Chappell
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Further insights into the pathogenesis of Chlamydiosis and characterisation of immune cells in the reproductive tract of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Chiara Palmieri
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
The physiological and behavioural adaptations in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in response to climate change
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Bill Ellis
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF THE MALE AUSTRALIAN PARROT An emphasis on the cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus)
Associate Advisor
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
The behavioural biology and management of southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons) in captivity
Associate Advisor
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
The behaviour and reproductive biology of captive southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons)
Associate Advisor
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
The identification of factors responsible for boar testicular hypertrophy following neonatal hemicastration
Associate Advisor
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2008
Master Philosophy
Longitudinal Changes in Testosterone Secretion and Agressive Behaviour and the Use of a GnRH Agonist in Male Australian Sea Lions, Neophoca Cinerea
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Steve Johnston directly for media enquiries about:
- Animal reproduction
- Bilbies
- Breeding technologies - for animals
- Captive breeding programs
- Crocodile reproduction
- Cryopreservation - animal genetics
- Embryo transfer - animals
- Exotic animals - reproductive biology
- IVF - for animals
- Kangaroos
- Koalas
- Koalas - reproductive biology
- Reproduction in animals
- Rhinos
- Spermatology - animal studies
- Wildlife reproductive biology
- Wombats
- Zoo captive breeding
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