Dr. Tyler W. Smith

Image Tyler William Smith
Research Scientist

I am a botanist with a background in systematics, ecology, and conservation biology. My research at AAFC focuses on the diversity of uncultivated plants in agricultural ecosystems, including crop wild relatives, weeds and invasive species.

Current research and/or projects

Modeling IAS risk under climate change 2019-2021

Assessing the range potential of Invasive Alien Species (Dog-strangling Vine) and associated herbivores under climate change with geospatial models of biological collections data

 

Supporting Makkovimiut food systems 2021-2025

Identifying key factors contributing to yield variability, assess pollinator communities, and develop locally-relevant semi-cultivated management practices for Rubus chamaemorus (bakeapple) to enhance annual yields.

 

Systematics of Weeds, Crops, and Crop Wild Relatives 2019-2025

Assessing in situ diversity of important berry crop wild relatives (Vaccinium, Rubus).

Research and/or project statements

My work focuses on the diversity of uncultivated plants in agricultural systems. This includes assessing the current and potential risks posed by weeds and invasive species, and evaluating the genetic and taxonomic diversity of crop wild relatives with the potential to enhance the sustainability and resilience of Canada's agricultural sector.

Professional activities / interests

  • Board Member of the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO) 2016-2019

  • Board Member of the Canadian Botanical Association 2011-2021

  • Adjunct Faculty Carleton University 2012-current

  • Associate Editor Botany 2011-2019, Castanea 2011-current

  • Chair, AAFC Vascular Plant Herbarium Collection Curatorial Committee 2018-current

  • Expert Reviewer for the Technical Advisory Group for the Biological Control Agents of Weeds 2018-current

Education and awards

  • B.Sc (Hons.) Pure and Applied Ecology, University of Guelph, 1996

  • Ph.D Plant Science (Systematics), McGill University, 2007

International experience and/or work

Assistant Professor, Eastern Kentucky University, 2009-2011

Key publications

  1. Smith, T.W. and Wang, S. (2013). "Species Limits and Polyploidy in Vaccinium oxycoccos.", Canadian Botanical Association, Kamloops, BC, Canada, Oral Presentation.

    2013 - View publication details

  2. Smith, T.W., Lundholm, J.T. (2012). Environmental geometry and heterogeneity-diversity relationships in spatially explicit simulated communities. Journal of Vegetation Science, [online] 23(4), 732-744. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1654-1103.2011.01380.x

    2012 - View publication details

  3. Smith, T.W. (2011 under review). Recovery strategy for the Ram's Head Lady Slipper (Cypripedium arietinum) in Nova Scotia., Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, Canada.

    2011 - View publication details

  4. Galbraith, D.A., Iwanycki, N.E., McGoey, B.V., McGregor, J., Pringle, J.S., Rothfels, C.J., and Smith, T.W. (2011). "The Evolving Role of Botanical Gardens and Natural Areas: A Floristics Case Study from Royal Botanical Gardens, Canada.", Plant Diversity and Resources, 33(1), pp. 123-131. doi : 10.3724/SP.J.1143.2011.10235

    2011 - View publication details

  5. Smith, T.W. and Rothfels, C.J. (2011). COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the Broad Beech Fern Phegopteris hexagonoptera in Canada., Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) Secretariat, Canadian Wildlife Service. (Report)

    2011 - View publication details

  6. Rothfels, C.J. and Smith, T.W. (2011). COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the Green Dragon Arisaema dracontium in Canada., Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) Secretariat, Canadian Wildlife Service. (Report)

    2011 - View publication details

  7. Balsdon, J.L., Smith, T.W., and Lundholm, J.T. (2011). "Phenotypic and genotypic differentiation of Vaccinium vitis-idaea (L.) between coastal barrens and forests in Nova Scotia, Canada.", Botany, 89(3), pp. 147-155. doi : 10.1139/B11-003

    2011 - View publication details

  8. Smith, T.W. and Blaney, S. (2010). COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Tubercled Spike-rush Eleocharis tuberculosa in Canada., Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) Secretariat, Canadian Wildlife Service. (Report)

    2010 - View publication details

  9. Smith, T.W. and Lundholm, J.T. (2010). "Variation partitioning as a tool to distinguish between niche and neutral processes.", Ecography, 33(4), pp. 648-655. doi : 10.1111/j.1600-0587.2009.06105.x

    2010 - View publication details

  10. Smith, T.W. (2009). "Plant Taxonomy: The Systematic Evaluation of Comparative Data, Second Edition. Stuessy, T.F. 2009. 539 pp. ISBN 978-0-231-14712-5. Columbia University Press, New York, NY (Book Review).", Plant Science Bulletin, 55(3), pp. 136-137.

    2009 - View publication details

  11. Blaney, S. and Smith, T.W. (2009). COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the Carolina Redroot Lachnanthes caroliniana in Canada., Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) Secretariat, Canadian Wildlife Service. (Report)

    2009 - View publication details

  12. Smith, T.W. and Lundholm, J.T. (2008). "Spatial and environmental structure generated by neutral processes: evaluating variation partitioning with simulated community data.", 3rd Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, May 11-14, 2008. (Presentation)

    2008 - View publication details

  13. Smith, T.W. (2008). "Field Guide to Wisconsin - Sedges: An Introduction to the Genus Carex (Cyperaceae), Hipp, A.L. 2008. 280 pp. The University of Wisconsin Press (Book Review).", Plant Science Bulletin, 54(4), pp. 170-171.

    2008 - View publication details

  14. Smith, T.W. (2008). "Principles of Population Genetics, Fourth Edition, Hartl, D.L. and Andrew G.C. 2007. 565 pp. ISBN 0-87893-308-5. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA (Book Review).", Plant Science Bulletin, 54(1), pp. 38.

    2008 - View publication details

  15. Smith, T.W. (2008). "The niche in ecological theory.", Invited lecture, Saint Mary's Biology Seminar Series, Halifax, NS, Canada, 2008. (Presentation)

    2008 - View publication details

  16. Smith, T.W. (2008). "An introduction to Carex taxonomy and ecology.", Harriet Irving Botanical Garden, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada, 2008. (Workshop)

    2008 - View publication details

  17. Smith, T.W. (2008). "Ecology, Cain M.L., Bowman W.D. and Hacker S.D. 2008. ISBN 978-0-87893-083-8. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA (Book Review).", Canadian Field Naturalist, 122(2), pp. 190.

    2008 - View publication details

  18. Smith, T.W. (2008). "Plant taxonomy: making sense of biological diversity.", Invited lecture, Saint Mary's Plant Ecology Course, Halifax, NS, Canada, 2008. (Presentation)

    2008 - View publication details

  19. Smith, T.W. and Waterway, M.J. (2008). "Evolutionary ecology in Carex: a case study in niche conservatism at local and regional scales.", 3rd Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, May 11-14, 2008. (Poster)

    2008 - View publication details

  20. Smith, T.W. and Waterway, M.J. (2008). "Evaluating species limits and hybridization in the Carex complanata complex using morphology, amplified fragment length polymorphisms, and restriction fragment analysis.", Botany, 86(8), pp. 809-826. doi : 10.1139/B08-031

    2008 - View publication details

Research facility

960 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6
Canada

Affiliations

  • Canadian Botanical Association

  • Southern Applachian Botanical Association

  • Botanical Society of America

Language

English
French