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SamantHa m. wisely
Associate professor, wildlife biology

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Conservation Genetic and Molecular Ecology Lab

Undergraduate Research Scholarships Available!
                                                                            111 Bushnell Hall                         Office: 785.532.0978
                                                                            Division of Biology                       Lab: 785.532.6413
                                                                            Kansas State University              Fax: 785.532.6653
                                                                            Manhattan, KS 66506-4901       Email: wisely@ksu.edu


Research Interests
My research uses both ecological and molecular tools to investigate how alteration of the environment affects biological processes at multiple scales.  In two core research areas, I investigate how human-induced habitat degradation alters 1) the connectivity of wild populations, 2) epidemiological processes.  The third area focuses on how past habitat alterations, via climate change, have shaped the evolutionary history of species.   I maintain two laboratories, the Conservation Genetic and Molecular Ecology Lab and the Ancient DNA Lab.

The Effect of Anthropogenic Disturbance on Connectivity of Populations
  I investigate how human-induced habitat degradation alters the connectivity of wild populations.  Using a spatially explicit approach to investigate genetic structure across the landscape, students in my lab have several projects underway.
  • The effect of wind power development on the demography and population genetics of the Greater Prairie-chicken. (in collaboration with Dr. Brett Sandercock )
  • The invasion of capybara into the Chaco Forest of Paraguay in response to increased ranching.
  • Population genetic structure of white-tailed deer in response to the emergence of chronic wasting disease.
  • Conservation genetics of bobwhite quail.

Host Ecology and Microevolution of Rabies
I collaborate with the KSU College of Veterinary Medicine Rabies Laboratory to study the role host ecology has on the transmission and microevolution of the rabies virus.  Using striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) as the model host, we  combine radio-telemetry and molecular genetic techniques to detail the microevolution of rabies during host to host transmission in situ. 

Genomic Toxicology of a Small Mammal Community on the Tri-State Mining District
Over 100 years of lead and zinc mining have introduced high levels of these metals into the soil and groundwater in the tri-state area of Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.  With more than 75,000 people living near the 2,500 mi2 Tri-State Mining District site, it is essential to understand how these contaminants have influenced the biological landscape of this region.  In collaboration with Drs. Sue Brown, Sanjeev Narayanan, and Kimberly With and the Ecological Genomics Institute, we study the effects of contamination on physiology, genome structure and function, and population ecology of deer  mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) by comparing individuals and populations from contaminated and non-contaminated (control) sites.
Phylogeography of North American Fauna
I use phylogeographic methods to investigate the role of past climatological events in evolutionary processes. In collaboration with Drs. Keith Aubry and Ben Sacks, I am investigating the phylogeography and conservation status of red fox in North America.  In a collaborative project with Dr. Tony Joern, we are investigating the role of phylogeographic processes in host race formation in a grassland grasshopper species. 


Recent Publications

McNew, L.B., Gregory, A.J., Wisely, S.M., Sandercock, B.K. 2011. Reproductive chronology of Greater Prairie-chickens in Kansas. Studies in Avian Biology. In press.

McNew, L.B., Gregory, A.J., Wisely, S. M., Sandercock, B.K. 2011. Evidence for human-mediated life-history evolution in Greater Prairie-chickens. Studies in Avian Biology. In press.

Gregory, A.J., McNew, L.B., Prebyl, T., Sandercock, B.K., Wisely, S.M. 2011. A multi-scale hierarchical modeling approach to mapping lek habitats of Greater Prairie-chickens in eastern Kansas. Studies in Avian Biology. In press.

Casey, A.E., Sandercock, B.K., Wisely, S.M. 2011. Genetic parentage and local population structure in the socially monogamous Upland Sandpiper. Condor 113: 119-128.

Klug, P.E., Wisely, S.M., With K.A. 2011. Population genetic structure and landscape connectivity of the Eastern Yellowbelly Racer (Coluber constrictor flaviventris) in the tallgrass prairie of northeastern Kansas. Landscape Ecology 26:281.

Campos-Krauer, J.M., Wisely, S.M. 2011. Deforestation and cattle ranching drive rapid range expansion and secondary contact of vicariant populations of a semiaquatic rodent in the Gran Chaco ecosystem. Global Change Biology 17: 206-218.

Apple, J.L., Grace, T., Joern, A., St. Amand, P., Wisely, S.M. 2010. Genome scan detects host-related divergent selection in the grasshopper Hesperotettix viridis. Molecular Ecology 19: 4012-4028.

Grace, T., Wisely, S.M., Brown, S.J., Dowell, F., Joern, A. 2010. Divergent host plant adaptation drives the evolution of sexual isolation in the grasshopper Hesperotettix viridis (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in the absence of reinforcement. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 100:866-878.

Conard, J., Statham, M.J., Gipson, P.S., Wisely, S.M.. 2010. The influence of translocation strategy and management practices on the genetic health of a re-established elk (Cervus elaphus) population. Restoration Ecology 18 (S1): 85-93.

Sacks, B., Statham, M.J., Perrine, J., Wisely, S.M., Aubry, K.B. 2010. North American montane red foxes: expansion, fragmentation, and the origin of the Sacramento Valley red fox. Conservation Genetics. 11:1523-1539.

Barton, H.D., Gregory, A.J., Davis, R., Hanlon, C.A., Wisely, S.M. 2010. Contrasting landscape epidemiology of two sympatric rabies virus strains. Molecular Ecology 19:2725-2738.

Coolon, J.D., Jones, K.L., Narayanan, S., Wisely, S.M. 2010. Microbial ecological response of the intestinal flora of Peromyscus maniculatus and P. leucopus to heavy metal contamination. Molecular Ecology, Special Issue on next generation technology 19:67-80.

Grace, T., Joern, A., Apple, J.L., Brown, S.J., and Wisely, S.M. 2009. Highly polymorphic microsatellites in the North American Snakeweed Grasshopper, Hesperotettix viridis. Journal of Orthoptera Research 18:19-21.

Aubry, K.B, Statham, M.J., Sacks, B., Perrine, J., Wisely, S.M. 2009. Phylogeography of the North American red fox: vicariance in Pleistocene forest refugia. Molecular Ecology 18:2668-2686.

Dragoo, J., Coan, K., Moore, K., Henke, S., Fleischer, R., Wisely, S.M. 2009. Polymorphic microsatellite markers for the striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis, and other mephitids. Molecular Ecology Resources 9:383-385.

Casey, A., Sandercock, B., Jones, K., Wisely, S.M. 2009. Heteroduplex molecules cause sexing errors in a standard molecular protocol for avian sexing. Molecular Ecology Resources 9:61-65.

Wisely, S.M., Santymire, R.M., Livieri, T.M., Mueting, S.A., Howard, J.G. 2008. Genotypic and phenotypic consequences of reintroduction history: case study of the black-footed ferret. Conservation Genetics 9:389-399.

Wisely, S.M., Howard, J.G., Williams, S.A., Bain, O., Santymire, R.M., Bardsley, K.D., Williams, E.S. 2008. An unidentified filarial species and its impact on fitness in wild populations of the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes). Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 44:53-64.

Wisely, S.M., Statham, M.J., Fleischer, R.C. 2008. Pleistocene refugium and Holocene expansion of a grassland dependent species, the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes). Journal of Mammalogy. 89:87-96.

Schwartz, M.K., Aubry, K.B, McKelvey, K.S., Pilgrim, K.L., Copeland, J.P., Squires, J.R., Inman, R.M., Wisely, S.M. 2007. Inferring geographic isolation of wolverines in California using ancient DNA. Journal of Wildlife Management 71:2170-2179.

Parker, M.W., Kress, S.W., Golightly, R.T., Carter, H.R., Parsons, E.B., Schubel, S.E., Boyce, J.A., McChesney, G.J., and Wisely, S.M. 2007. Assessment of social attraction techniques used to restore a Common Murre colony in central California. Waterbirds 30:17-28.

Bronson E., Bush M., Viner T., Murray S., Wisely S.M., Deem S.L. 2007. Mortality of captive black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) at Smithsonian's National Zoological Park: 1989-2004. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 38:169-176.

Li, Z., Sun, X., Chen, J., Liu, X., Wisely, S.M., Zhou, Q., Renard, J.P., Leno, G.H., Engelhardt, J.F. 2006. Full-term development of ferret embryos cloned by cell nuclear transfer. Developmental Biology 293:439-448. (pdf file)

Wisely, S.M., Santymire, R.M., Marinari, P., Kreeger, J. Livieri, T., Wildt, D.E., Howard, J.G. 2005. Environment influences morphology and development of in situ and ex situ populations of the black-footed ferret. Animal Conservation. 8:321-328. (pdf file)

Buskirk, S.W. and Wisely, S.M. 2005. Bioappraisal. In: Species at risk: economic incentives to protect endangered species on private property. J. Shogren, ed., Austin TX: University of Texas Press.

Wisely, S.M.  2005.  The genetic legacy of the black-footed ferret: past, present, and future. Pages 37-43 in Recovery of the                        Black-Footed Ferret: Progress and Continuing Challenges. U.S.G.S. Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5293. (pdf file)

Aubry, K.B., Wisely, S.M., Raley, C.M., and Buskirk, S.W. 2004. Zoogeography, spacing patterns and dispersal in fishers: insights gained from combining field and genetic data. Pages 211-230 in Martens and fishers (Martes) in human-altered environments: an international perspective. D.J. Harrison, A.K. Fuller and G. Proulx, eds. Kluwer Academic Publishers, New York. (pdf file)

Wisely, S.M., Buskirk, S.W., Russell, G., Aubry, K. and Zielinski, W. 2004. Genetic structure and diversity of the fisher (Martes pennanti) in a peninsular and peripheral metapopulation. Journal of Mammalogy 85:640-648.(pdf file)

Wisely, S.M., Maldonado, J.E., and Fleischer, R.C. 2004. Turbinal bones as a source of ancient DNA. Conservation Genetics 5:105-107.(pdf file)

Wisely, S.M. and Golightly, R.T. 2003. Behavioral and ecological adaptations to water economy in two species of plethodontid
     salamander. Journal of Herpetology 37:659-665.(pdf file)

Wisely, S.M., McDonald, D.B., and Buskirk, S.W. 2003. Evaluation of the species survival plan and captive breeding program for the black-footed ferret. Zoo Biology 22:287-298.(pdf file)

Wisely, S.M., Fleming, M., McDonald, D.B., Buskirk, S.W., and Ostrander, E. 2002. Genetic diversity and fitness in black-footed ferrets before and during a bottleneck. Journal of Heredity 93:231-237.(pdf file)

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


Education

Ph.D. Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, August 2001. Dissertation: Conservation genetics of the black-footed ferret.

M.S. Wildlife Ecology, Humboldt State University, August 1997. Thesis: Comparative physiology, ecology and behavior in two species of plethodontid salamander.

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


Class Information

I coteach Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation with Dr. Keith Gido and Organismic Biology with Dr. Ari Jumpponnen in the spring.