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Education

University of California, San Diego, B.A., Ecology, Evolution and Animal Behavior, 1991

Humboldt State University, M.S., Wildlife Management, 1997

University of Wyoming, Ph.D., Zoology and Physiology, 2001

Professional History and Interests

Samantha Wisely’s academic background can be traced to California where she studied amphibian physiology and developmental stability. Today her research interests lie in the study of conservation genetics, which allows her to conduct research at the interface of several biological disciplines.

Her approach focuses on the use of genetic, morphometric and field techniques to answer multidisciplinary questions about the ecology, biogeography and population ecology of species in peril. Her research goal is to enhance the quality of applied wildlife management by utilizing cutting edge techniques and endeavoring in basic scientific research that is pertinent to wildlife managers.

The model system with which she is currently working is the black-footed ferret. This species provides an empirical example of a well documented population bottleneck and recovery which allows for testing some basic tenets of conservation biology of which there are few examples.

For her doctoral dissertation, Wisely described a mainland-island metapopulation structure across the historical distribution of the black-footed ferret. She found that although black-footed ferrets lost genetic diversity prior to the initiation of conservation breeding, they lost no further genetic diversity once in zoosy. She recently evaluated the effectiveness of the American Zoo and Aquarium’s genetic management plan for black-footed ferrets and found that the species survival plan adequately protects against the loss of genetic diversity.

She has collaborated on research with the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service working on such species as the kangaroo rat, kit fox, fisher, and wolverine.

Currently, she is co-principal investigator of biomedical surveys of captive and reintroduced black-footed ferrets. The purpose of these surveys is to assess the threat of inbreeding and inbreeding depression on the recovery of this species. It is unclear whether ferrets suffer from inbreeding depression; reports from zoos include declining reproduction and suppressed immune response. Surveys will be conducted at five reintroduction sites and in the captive population.

Selected Publications

Buskirk, S.W. and S.M. Wisely. Bioappraisal. In: Species at Risk: Economic Incentives to Protect Endangered Species on Private Property, J. Shogren, ed., Austin, TX: University of Texas Press. (in press).

Aubry, K.B., S.M. Wisely, C.M. Raley, and S.W. Buskirk. 2003. Phylogeography, spacing patterns, and dispersal in fishers: Insights gained from combining field and genetic data. Proceedings of Martes Symposium 2000. (in press).

Wisely, S.M., D.B. McDonald, and S.W. Buskirk. 2003. Evaluation of the species survival plan and captive breeding program for the black-footed ferret. Zoo Biology 22 (in press).

Wisely, S.M., M.A. Fleming, D.B. McDonald, S.W. Buskirk, and E.A. Ostrander. 2002. Genetic variation in the endangered black-footed ferret before and during a population bottleneck. Journal of Heredity 93: 231-237.

Wisely, S.M., J.J. Ososky, and S.W. Buskirk. 2002. Morphological changes to black-footed ferrets resulting from captivity. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 80: 1562-1568.

Contact

Genetics Program
Smithsonian Institution
3001 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20008

Phone: 202.673.4781 Fax: 202.673.4648