NWRC Research Scientists: Dr. Timothy J. Smyser

Dr. Smyser serves as the team lead for the Feral Swine Genetic Archive.  The Archive team works in close coordination with the Wildlife Services’ National Feral Swine Damage Management Program to provide genetic analyses in support of Wildlife Services’ efforts to control invasive feral swine populations. 

Beyond the management of an extensive physical archive and associated high-density SNP database, the Archive team works on a diversity of research questions that contribute to Wildlife Services’ objectives of mitigating the damage caused by this feral swine; such topics include:

• Delineation of biologically informed management units with the use of population genetic approaches,
• Genetically differentiating invasive feral swine from domestic pigs to support enforcement of prohibitions on the possession or transport of feral swine, 
• Description of evolutionary processes that are contributing to emergent invasiveness as an outcome of natural selective pressures, and 
• Elucidation of disease transmission dynamics within vs between social groups and characterizing genetic factors that influence differences in disease susceptibility.

Collectively, the research products produced by the Archive team have broad applications to feral swine management efforts, helping guide, inform, or support the allocation of population control resources, disease preparedness efforts, and law enforcement.