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DEVELOPING TOOLS FOR DETECTING FERAL SWINE AND THEIR IMPACTS TO WILDLIFE AND AGRICULTURE
Author
Piaggio, Antoinette J.
Williams, Kelly E.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2014
Body

Documenting the presence of invasive feral swine (Sus scrofa) and identifying their impacts  is critical for successful management strategies. This effort can be advanced through the development of molecular tools. Control of feral swine can be costly and success can be rapidly reversed by remnant populations. In areas where control has been applied, it is critical to detect repopulation as soon as possible before the population rebounds. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a relatively new approach for detecting the presence of a target species through sampling water, soil, and even air. We are developing an eDNA test where feral swine activity can be detected through water samples. Feral swine are often associated with water due to their physiology. Thus they spend significant time wallowing in wet areas and thus allow a unique opportunity for eDNA detection without the need to invest time and money in trapping. In areas where there is no concern about domestic swine having access to a water source or watershed, a positive test will allow managers to detect feral swine. We will also use water samples and a whole genome sequencing approach to document the impact of feral swine on water quality and subsequent pathogen transmission to livestock and agriculture. We will use whole genome sequencing to detect pathogens known to be transmitted by swine. We will use a paired approach for sites in the same habitat and include pairs from states where there are few feral swine and long-term populations for comparison. Finally pathogen detection will be examined before and after control of feral swine populations to test to see if control helps reduce swine related pathogens in water sources.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM Orlando, FL
Collection
SRM Annual Meeting Abstracts