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John Jackson, Ph.D.

500 500 Stroud Water Research Center
John Jackson, Ph.D.

Senior Research Scientist

  • Principal investigator, Entomology Group.
  • Adjunct professor of entomology and wildlife ecology, University of Delaware.
  • Adjunct professor of biology, University of Pennsylvania.

Contact

jkjackson@stroudcenter.org
tel. 610-268-2153, ext. 1226
970 Spencer Road, Avondale, PA 19311

ORCID | Google Scholar

Interests and Expertise

John Jackson’s research interests span a variety of applied and basic subjects, including population and evolutionary ecology of stream insects, the role of abiotic and biotic processes in determining the structure and function of stream assemblages, energy and nutrient exchange within streams and between streams and their surrounding watersheds, and benthic monitoring and water quality assessment. Specific projects that address these research interests include studies of growth and development of aquatic insects, the influence of dispersal, population dynamics, and environmental variation on genetic structure of stream organisms, the evolutionary and ecological significance of disturbance in aquatic insect ecology, spatial and temporal variation in the distribution and abundance of stream insects, and organic matter dynamics and secondary production. These studies have been located in temperate and/or tropical streams.

Education

  • Ph.D., entomology, University of California, Berkeley, California.
  • M.S., zoology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona.
  • B.S., biology (Honors), University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana.

Professional Experience

  • Senior research scientist, Stroud Water Research Center, 2007–present.
  • Adjunct professor, biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2001–present.
  • Adjunct Professor, entomology and wildlife ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, 1992–present.
  • Associate research scientist, Stroud Water Research Center, 1999–2007.
  • Fulbright senior scholar at Institut für Zoologie und Limnologie, Universität Innsbruck, Austria, 1998.
  • Postdoctoral research associate, assistant curator, and associate curator, Division of Environmental Research, Stroud Water Research Center, The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 1990–1999.

Publications

Archived historical aquatic macroinvertebrate specimens suggest connections between microplastic abundance patterns, trophic traits, and land use

McNeish, R.E., M.D. Macchia, N.M. Lee, A.T. Harrison, A.J. Brown, J.K. Jackson, and J.R. Wallace. 2026. Insects 17(4): 386.

High fecal indicator bacteria in temperate headwater streams at baseflow: implications for management and public health

D.T. Myers, L. Zgleszewski, R. Bier, J.R. Price, S. Morgan, J.K. Jackson, D. Oviedo-Vargas, M. Daniels, D.B. Arscott, J. Kan. 2025. Water Research X 29: 100347.

Advancing freshwater science with sensor data collected by community scientists

Oviedo-Vargas, D., M. Peipoch, S.H. Ensign, D. Bressler, D.B. Arscott, and J.K. Jackson. 2024. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 22(6): e2748.

To achieve the Clean Water Act’s goals, prioritize upstream ecology

Ensign, S.H., D.B. Arscott, M. Daniels, C. Dow, J.K. Jackson, D. Oviedo-Vargas, and M. Peipoch. 2024. Water Resources IMPACT 26(3): 19–21.

Atlantic Coast rivers of the northeastern United States

Jackson, J.K., S.A. Entrekin, H.S. Greig, A.H. Roy. 2023. Pages 21–67 in M. Delong, T. Jardine, A. Benke, C. Cushing (editors), Rivers of North America. 2nd Ed. Elsevier, New York.

See publications by all Stroud Center authors

Too Hot to Handle: How Rising Temperatures Impact Streams

Human activities are increasing stream temperatures and harming habitat quality for freshwater fish and species like mayflies.

The Next Frontiers of Freshwater Science

From PFAS to road salt, science helps us discover the emerging pollutants lurking in our water and find solutions.

Scientist Known for Road Salt Research and Policy Guidance Earns Top Honor

John K. Jackson, Ph.D., has been recognized for research, community leadership, and protecting streams and drinking water.

Stroud Center Scientist Testifies About Stream Impairment

Why are we not measuring more improvements among our impaired streams or seeing more streams removed from our list of impaired waters?

What the Fall Salt Snapshot Revealed About Our Groundwater

Most stream sites sampled this fall exceeded at least one environmental chloride guideline — months after the last road salt was applied.

Stroud Center Named Watershed Champion by Philly–Area Collaborative

A collaborative led by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council honors Stroud Center for its role in protecting and restoring the Delaware River Watershed.
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