Career
His studies focused on the food chain in marine ecosystems. James Johnstone a had this responsibility from 1920 to 1932
He was also active in creating the British Journal of Experimental Biology (BJEB) being on the journal"s editorial board. În 1929, the publication changed its name to Journal of Experimental Biology
To honor his memory, a flatworm Rhipidocotyle johnstonei was named after James Johnstone.