Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences
Executive Director of Vet Services, and Director of Biosafety Level 3 Laboratory and Co-Director of BBRC Infectious Disease and Immunology
Executive Director and Associate Dean for the Sciences
Lavretsky P, Hoyt A, Musni VM, Howell D, Williams CK
Lavretsky P, Hoyt A, Musni VM, Howell D, Williams CK. Frequency and types of alternative breeding strategies employed by nesting American black ducks in North Carolina. PLoS One. 2023; 18(2):e0278905.
Frequency and types of alternative breeding strategies employed by nesting American black ducks in North Carolina.
Alza L, Lavretsky P, Peters JL, Cer?n G, Smith M, Kopuchian C, Astie A, McCracken KG
Alza L, Lavretsky P, Peters JL, Cer?n G, Smith M, Kopuchian C, Astie A, McCracken KG. Old divergence and restricted gene flow between torrent duck (Merganetta armata) subspecies in the Central and Southern Andes. Ecol Evol. 2019 Sep; 9(17):9961-9976.
Old divergence and restricted gene flow between torrent duck (Merganetta armata) subspecies in the Central and Southern Andes.
Samake JN, Lavretsky P, Gunarathna I, Follis M, Brown JI, Ali S, Yared S, Carter TE
Samake JN, Lavretsky P, Gunarathna I, Follis M, Brown JI, Ali S, Yared S, Carter TE. Population genomic analyses reveal population structure and major hubs of invasive Anopheles stephensi in the Horn of Africa. Mol Ecol. 2023 11; 32(21):5695-5708.
Population genomic analyses reveal population structure and major hubs of invasive Anopheles stephensi in the Horn of Africa.
Schummer ML, Simpson J, Shirkey B, Kucia SR, Lavretsky P, Tozer DC
Schummer ML, Simpson J, Shirkey B, Kucia SR, Lavretsky P, Tozer DC. Population genetics and geographic origins of mallards harvested in northwestern Ohio. PLoS One. 2023; 18(3):e0282874.
Population genetics and geographic origins of mallards harvested in northwestern Ohio.
Hern?ndez F, Janzen T, Lavretsky P. simRestore: A decision-making tool for adaptive management of the native genetic status of wild populations. Mol Ecol Resour. 2024 Feb; 24(2):e13892.
simRestore: A decision-making tool for adaptive management of the native genetic status of wild populations.
Lavretsky P, Wilson RE, Talbot SL, Sonsthagen SA
Lavretsky P, Wilson RE, Talbot SL, Sonsthagen SA. Phylogenomics reveals ancient and contemporary gene flow contributing to the evolutionary history of sea ducks (Tribe Mergini). Mol Phylogenet Evol. 2021 08; 161:107164.
Phylogenomics reveals ancient and contemporary gene flow contributing to the evolutionary history of sea ducks (Tribe Mergini).
Lavretsky P, Kraai KJ, Butler D, Morel J, VonBank JA, Marty JR, Musni VM, Collins DP
Lavretsky P, Kraai KJ, Butler D, Morel J, VonBank JA, Marty JR, Musni VM, Collins DP. Human-Induced Range Expansions Result in a Recent Hybrid Zone between Sister Species of Ducks. Genes (Basel). 2024 May 21; 15(6).
Human-Induced Range Expansions Result in a Recent Hybrid Zone between Sister Species of Ducks.
Harvey K, Lavretsky P, Foth J, Williams CK
Harvey K, Lavretsky P, Foth J, Williams CK. Nest parasitism, promiscuity, and relatedness among wood ducks. PLoS One. 2021; 16(12):e0257105.
Nest parasitism, promiscuity, and relatedness among wood ducks.
Mohl JE, Brown PD, Robbins AJ, Lavretsky P, Hochberg R, Wallace RL, Walsh EJ
Mohl JE, Brown PD, Robbins AJ, Lavretsky P, Hochberg R, Wallace RL, Walsh EJ. Comparing Small and Large Genomes Within Monogonont Rotifers. Genome Biol Evol. 2025 Mar 06; 17(3).
Comparing Small and Large Genomes Within Monogonont Rotifers.
White J, Lavretsky P, Borboroglu PG, D?az A, Ellenberg U, Houston D, Long R, Mattern T, Mays HL, P?tz K, Seddon PJ, McCracken KG
White J, Lavretsky P, Borboroglu PG, D?az A, Ellenberg U, Houston D, Long R, Mattern T, Mays HL, P?tz K, Seddon PJ, McCracken KG. Population structure of three New Zealand crested penguins identifies current conservation challenges for the Fiordland penguin/tawaki, erect-crested penguin, and eastern rockhopper penguin. PLoS One. 2025; 20(8):e0329545.
Population structure of three New Zealand crested penguins identifies current conservation challenges for the Fiordland penguin/tawaki, erect-crested penguin, and eastern rockhopper penguin.
Lavretsky P, Peters JL, Winker K, Bahn V, Kulikova I, Zhuravlev YN, Wilson RE, Barger C, Gurney K, McCracken KG
Lavretsky P, Peters JL, Winker K, Bahn V, Kulikova I, Zhuravlev YN, Wilson RE, Barger C, Gurney K, McCracken KG. Becoming pure: identifying generational classes of admixed individuals within lesser and greater scaup populations. Mol Ecol. 2016 Feb; 25(3):661-74.
Becoming pure: identifying generational classes of admixed individuals within lesser and greater scaup populations.
Lavretsky P, Dacosta JM, Hern?ndez-Ba?os BE, Engilis A, Sorenson MD, Peters JL
Lavretsky P, Dacosta JM, Hern?ndez-Ba?os BE, Engilis A, Sorenson MD, Peters JL. Speciation genomics and a role for the Z chromosome in the early stages of divergence between Mexican ducks and mallards. Mol Ecol. 2015 Nov; 24(21):5364-78.
Speciation genomics and a role for the Z chromosome in the early stages of divergence between Mexican ducks and mallards.
Graham AM, Lavretsky P, Mu?oz-Fuentes V, Green AJ, Wilson RE, McCracken KG
Graham AM, Lavretsky P, Mu?oz-Fuentes V, Green AJ, Wilson RE, McCracken KG. Migration-Selection Balance Drives Genetic Differentiation in Genes Associated with High-Altitude Function in the Speckled Teal (Anas flavirostris) in the Andes. Genome Biol Evol. 2018 01 01; 10(1):14-32.
Migration-Selection Balance Drives Genetic Differentiation in Genes Associated with High-Altitude Function in the Speckled Teal (Anas flavirostris) in the Andes.
Brown JI, Harrigan RJ, Lavretsky P. Evolutionary and ecological drivers of local adaptation and speciation in a North American avian species complex. Mol Ecol. 2022 05; 31(9):2578-2593.
Evolutionary and ecological drivers of local adaptation and speciation in a North American avian species complex.
Peters JL, Winker K, Millam KC, Lavretsky P, Kulikova I, Wilson RE, Zhuravlev YN, McCracken KG
Peters JL, Winker K, Millam KC, Lavretsky P, Kulikova I, Wilson RE, Zhuravlev YN, McCracken KG. Mito-nuclear discord in six congeneric lineages of Holarctic ducks (genus Anas). Mol Ecol. 2014 Jun; 23(12):2961-74.
Mito-nuclear discord in six congeneric lineages of Holarctic ducks (genus Anas).
Kaminski M, Brown JI, Seibert SR, Hern?ndez F, Duya MV, Fontanilla IKC, Roshier D, Miles A, Joseph L, Peters JL, Lavretsky P
Kaminski M, Brown JI, Seibert SR, Hern?ndez F, Duya MV, Fontanilla IKC, Roshier D, Miles A, Joseph L, Peters JL, Lavretsky P. Determining evolutionary origin and phylogenetic relationships of mallard-like ducks of Oceania, greater Indonesia, and the Philippines with ddRAD-seq data. Mol Phylogenet Evol. 2024 Aug; 197:108085.
Determining evolutionary origin and phylogenetic relationships of mallard-like ducks of Oceania, greater Indonesia, and the Philippines with ddRAD-seq data.
Bakner NW, Masto NM, Lavretsky P, Highway CJ, Keever AC, Blake-Bradshaw AG, Askren RJ, Hagy HM, Feddersen JC, Osborne DC, Cohen BS
Bakner NW, Masto NM, Lavretsky P, Highway CJ, Keever AC, Blake-Bradshaw AG, Askren RJ, Hagy HM, Feddersen JC, Osborne DC, Cohen BS. Mallard Hybridization With Domesticated Lineages Alters Spring Migration Behavior and Timing. Ecol Evol. 2025 Jan; 15(1):e70706.
Mallard Hybridization With Domesticated Lineages Alters Spring Migration Behavior and Timing.
Lavretsky P, McCracken KG, Peters JL. Phylogenetics of a recent radiation in the mallards and allies (Aves: Anas): inferences from a genomic transect and the multispecies coalescent. Mol Phylogenet Evol. 2014 Jan; 70:402-11.
Phylogenetics of a recent radiation in the mallards and allies (Aves: Anas): inferences from a genomic transect and the multispecies coalescent.
Schell ER, McCracken KG, Scott GR, White J, Lavretsky P, Dawson NJ
Schell ER, McCracken KG, Scott GR, White J, Lavretsky P, Dawson NJ. Consistent changes in muscle metabolism underlie dive performance across multiple lineages of diving ducks. Proc Biol Sci. 2023 09 27; 290(2007):20231466.
Consistent changes in muscle metabolism underlie dive performance across multiple lineages of diving ducks.
Lavretsky P, Duenez E, Sorensen J. Population genetics and conservation of recently discovered springsnails in Arizona. J Molluscan Stud. 2021 Sep; 87(3):eyab020.
Population genetics and conservation of recently discovered springsnails in Arizona.
Wells CP, Lavretsky P, Sorenson MD, Peters JL, DaCosta JM, Turnbull S, Uyehara KJ, Malachowski CP, Dugger BD, Eadie JM, Engilis A
Wells CP, Lavretsky P, Sorenson MD, Peters JL, DaCosta JM, Turnbull S, Uyehara KJ, Malachowski CP, Dugger BD, Eadie JM, Engilis A. Persistence of an endangered native duck, feral mallards, and multiple hybrid swarms across the main Hawaiian Islands. Mol Ecol. 2019 12; 28(24):5203-5216.
Persistence of an endangered native duck, feral mallards, and multiple hybrid swarms across the main Hawaiian Islands.
Hern?ndez F, Brown JI, Kaminski M, Harvey MG, Lavretsky P
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Hern?ndez F, Brown JI, Kaminski M, Harvey MG, Lavretsky P. Genomic Evidence for Rare Hybridization and Large Demographic Changes in the Evolutionary Histories of Four North American Dove Species. Animals (Basel). 2021 Sep 13; 11(9).
Genomic Evidence for Rare Hybridization and Large Demographic Changes in the Evolutionary Histories of Four North American Dove Species.
Brown JI, Sheppard JL, Mohl J, Engilis IE, Engilis A, Lavretsky P
Brown JI, Sheppard JL, Mohl J, Engilis IE, Engilis A, Lavretsky P. Anthropogenic Hybridization Contributes to the Naturalization of Introduced Domestic Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) at the Expense of Native New Zealand Gray Ducks (A. s. superciliosa). Ecol Evol. 2025 Jun; 15(6):e71536.
Anthropogenic Hybridization Contributes to the Naturalization of Introduced Domestic Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) at the Expense of Native New Zealand Gray Ducks (A. s. superciliosa).
Brown JI, Hern?ndez F, Engilis A, Hern?ndez-Ba?os BE, Collins D, Lavretsky P
Brown JI, Hern?ndez F, Engilis A, Hern?ndez-Ba?os BE, Collins D, Lavretsky P. Genomic and morphological data shed light on the complexities of shared ancestry between closely related duck species. Sci Rep. 2022 06 17; 12(1):10212.
Genomic and morphological data shed light on the complexities of shared ancestry between closely related duck species.
Lavretsky P, Janzen T, McCracken KG. Identifying hybrids & the genomics of hybridization: Mallards & American black ducks of Eastern North America. Ecol Evol. 2019 Mar; 9(6):3470-3490.
Identifying hybrids & the genomics of hybridization: Mallards & American black ducks of Eastern North America.
Graham AM, Lavretsky P, Wilson RE, McCracken KG
Graham AM, Lavretsky P, Wilson RE, McCracken KG. High-altitude adaptation is accompanied by strong signatures of purifying selection in the mitochondrial genomes of three Andean waterfowl. PLoS One. 2024; 19(1):e0294842.
High-altitude adaptation is accompanied by strong signatures of purifying selection in the mitochondrial genomes of three Andean waterfowl.
Vera AJ, Soliz AG, Vera KR, Ortega OJ, Jeon S, Su X, de la Mora-Covarubbias A, Lavretsky P, Watts DM
Vera AJ, Soliz AG, Vera KR, Ortega OJ, Jeon S, Su X, de la Mora-Covarubbias A, Lavretsky P, Watts DM. Environmental influences on Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) population densities across 2 urban communities on the U.S.-Mexico border. J Med Entomol. 2025 Mar 17; 62(2):449-457.
Environmental influences on Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) population densities across 2 urban communities on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Lavretsky P, DaCosta JM, Sorenson MD, McCracken KG, Peters JL
Lavretsky P, DaCosta JM, Sorenson MD, McCracken KG, Peters JL. ddRAD-seq data reveal significant genome-wide population structure and divergent genomic regions that distinguish the mallard and close relatives in North America. Mol Ecol. 2019 05; 28(10):2594-2609.
ddRAD-seq data reveal significant genome-wide population structure and divergent genomic regions that distinguish the mallard and close relatives in North America.
Sonsthagen SA, Wilson RE, Lavretsky P, Talbot SL
Sonsthagen SA, Wilson RE, Lavretsky P, Talbot SL. Coast to coast: High genomic connectivity in North American scoters. Ecol Evol. 2019 Jun; 9(12):7246-7261.
Coast to coast: High genomic connectivity in North American scoters.
El Seminario Internacional de Cuidadores de personas con Alzheimer
Stunz E, Fetcher N, Lavretsky P, Mohl JE, Tang J, Moody ML
Stunz E, Fetcher N, Lavretsky P, Mohl JE, Tang J, Moody ML. Landscape Genomics Provides Evidence of Ecotypic Adaptation and a Barrier to Gene Flow at Treeline for the Arctic Foundation Species Eriophorum vaginatum. Front Plant Sci. 2022; 13:860439.
Landscape Genomics Provides Evidence of Ecotypic Adaptation and a Barrier to Gene Flow at Treeline for the Arctic Foundation Species Eriophorum vaginatum.
Pacific Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases Research
Lavretsky P, Hern?ndez F, Swale T, Mohl JE
Lavretsky P, Hern?ndez F, Swale T, Mohl JE. Chromosomal-level reference genome of a wild North American mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). G3 (Bethesda). 2023 09 30; 13(10).
Chromosomal-level reference genome of a wild North American mallard (Anas platyrhynchos).
Lavretsky P, McInerney NR, Mohl JE, Brown JI, James HF, McCracken KG, Fleischer RC
Lavretsky P, McInerney NR, Mohl JE, Brown JI, James HF, McCracken KG, Fleischer RC. Assessing changes in genomic divergence following a century of human-mediated secondary contact among wild and captive-bred ducks. Mol Ecol. 2020 02; 29(3):578-595.
Assessing changes in genomic divergence following a century of human-mediated secondary contact among wild and captive-bred ducks.
Lavretsky P, Mohl JE, S?derquist P, Kraus RHS, Schummer ML, Brown JI
Lavretsky P, Mohl JE, S?derquist P, Kraus RHS, Schummer ML, Brown JI. The meaning of wild: Genetic and adaptive consequences from large-scale releases of domestic mallards. Commun Biol. 2023 08 05; 6(1):819.
The meaning of wild: Genetic and adaptive consequences from large-scale releases of domestic mallards.
Vera AJ, Soliz AG, Khatchikian CE, de la Mora-Covarrubias A, Watts DM, Lavretsky P
Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.)
Vera AJ, Soliz AG, Khatchikian CE, de la Mora-Covarrubias A, Watts DM, Lavretsky P. Genomic Analysis of Aedes aegypti in the Northern Chihuahuan Desert of Texas and Mexico. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2024 10; 24(10):673-681.
Genomic Analysis of Aedes aegypti in the Northern Chihuahuan Desert of Texas and Mexico.