Working Dissertation Title:

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY EFFECTS AND THE ECOLOGICAL CONTEXT OF VERTICALLY STRATIFIED RAINFOREST CANOPY FAUNA

Abstract: Canopy strata of tropical forests are one of the remaining unexplored biotic frontiers. New access techniques to the canopy have facilitated an increased investigation on the ecology of forest canopies and their function in tropical ecosystems. As the interface between the terrestrial environment and atmosphere the canopy and its inhabitants are integral to ecosystem function and maintenance. Epiphytes, tank bromeliads in particular, provide microhabitat for a high diversity of fauna and flora in tropical forest canopies and considered a “keystone resource”. A number of amphibians inhabit these phytotelmata yet their ecological role in forest canopies remains primarily unknown, while knowledge of arthropods has increased significantly in recent years. Anthropogenic perturbations are rapidly altering the landscape of the Ecuadorian Amazon and along with it the species diversity, forest dynamics, and ecosystem functions. The proposed study will investigate the symbiotic relationship of tank bromeliads and their inhabitants, influence of forest types and management regimes on this relationship, impact of human disturbance on their status in the ecosystem, and the phylogenetic divergence of terrestrial and canopy dwelling amphibian congeners. Resulting data provide science-based support to promote social responsibility and conservation efforts throughout Amazonia.

Shawn F. McCracken

Ph.D. Candidate - Aquatic Resources

Department of Biology

Texas State University

601 University Drive

San Marcos, Texas

smccracken(AT)txstate.edu

Executive Director/Research Coordinator

The TADPOLE Organization

www.tadpoleorg.org

 

 

Dissertation Committee:

Dr. Michael R.J. Forstner (major advisor) (website link)

Dr. James R. Dixon (Texas A&M Univ.) (website link)

Dr. Mark Mulligan (King's College London) (website link)

Dr. Francis L. Rose (Texas State Univ.) (website link)

Dr. Debbie M. Thorne (Texas State Univ.) (website link)

Dr. Floyd Weckerly (Texas State Univ.) (website link)

 

 

Curriculum Vitae 

 

EDUCATION 

 

Ph.D. Aquatic Resources, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas. Expected 2010.

B.A. Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas. May 2005, cum laude.

 

RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Use of GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and database management systems for the documentation, analysis and monitoring of amphibian populations in the neotropics, with a
          concentration on the Ecuadorian Amazon Basin.
  • Investigation of the natural history and genetic conservation aspects of neotropical amphibians in order to better understand their ecological function and role in conservation decision making.

 

EXPERIENCE

 

2007 Spring                  Graduate assistant – lab instructor, BIO 2450 – Genetics, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA.

2006 October               Co-host, Texas Herpetological Society Annual Symposium, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA.

2006 Fall                      Graduate assistant – lab instructor, BIO 2450 – Genetics, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA.

2006                            Grant reviewer, Texas Herpetological Society, Austin, Texas, USA.

2006 Spring                  Graduate assistant – lab instructor, BIO 4425/5525 – Ornithology, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA.

2006 Spring                  Graduate assistant – lab instructor, BIO 1431 – Organismal Biology, Texas State  University, San Marcos, Texas, USA.

2005 Fall                      Graduate assistant – lab instructor, BIO 1431 – Organismal Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA.

2005 – Present             Assistant curator, M.R.J. Forstner Frozen Tissue Collection, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA.

2004 Summer               Coordinator - Ecuador research field work for M.Sc. student, Paul Herbertson, King’s College London, London, England.

2002 – 2003                 Instructor – Frogs!, Kid’s U – summer course, University of Houston, Clear Lake, Texas.

2002 – Present             Webmaster – The TADPOLE Organization website.  www.tadpoleorg.org.

1999 – Present             The TADPOLE Organization.  Executive Director, Founder and Research coordinator.

 

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

 

2007                            Anuran audio survey technician for Bufo houstonensis surveys in Bastrop County, Texas StateUniversity.

2006                            Primary investigator, research and safety coordinator for amphibian bromeliad patch sampling surveys. Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Universidad San

                                   Francisco de Quito, Napo Province, Ecuador.

2005 – 2006                 Field assistant, small mammal survey.  Bastrop State Park, Texas, USA.

2004, May – Aug         Primary investigator, research and safety coordinator for terrestrial amphibian quadrat and bromeliad patch sampling surveys. Tiputini Biodiversity Station,

                                   Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Napo Province, Ecuador.

2003, Feb – April         Primary investigator, research and safety coordinator for terrestrial amphibian quadrat surveys. Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Universidad San Francisco de

                                   Quito, Napo Province, Ecuador.

2002, Sep – Dec          Primary investigator, research and safety coordinator for terrestrial amphibian quadrat surveys. Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Universidad San Francisco de

                                   Quito, Napo Province, Ecuador.

 

PROFESSIONAL & STUDENT MEMBERSHIPS

 

Biology Graduate Student Organization, Texas State University, Secretary/Webmaster 2006 - 2007

Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society (Tri-Beta Honor Society)

Herpetologists League

Scientists Concerned for Yasuni (SCY)

Sigma Xi - The Scientific Research Society

Society for Conservation GIS (SCGIS)

Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR)

Texas Herpetological Society

Texas State Wildlife Society

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

McCracken, S.F., C.Stinson, P. Keller, and M.R.J. Forstner. 2007. Geographic Distribution. Holbrookia propinqua propinqua. Herpetological Review. accepted.

McCracken, S.F. and M.R.J. Forstner. 2007. Bromeliad patch sampling protocol for canopy herpetofauna in neotropical forests. Herpetological Review. accepted.

McHenry, D.J., S.F. McCracken, and M.R.J. Forstner. 2007. Geographic Distribution. Pseudemys texana. Herpetological Review. 38(2): 217. (PDF)

McCracken, S.F., M.R.J. Forstner, and J.R. Dixon.  A new species of the Eleutherodactylus lacrimosus assemblage (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from the lowland rainforest of Yasuni National Park,

            Amazonian Ecuador. Phyllomedusa – Journal of Neotropical Herpetology. 6(1):21-33.   (PDF)

McCracken, S.F. and M.R.J. Forstner.  2006.  Reproductive ecology and behavior of Eleutherodactylus aureolineatus (Anura: Brachycephalidae) in the canopy of the Upper Amazon Basin.

            Phyllomedusa – Journal of Neotropical Herpetology 5(2): 135-143.   (PDF)

Guayasamin, J. M., S. R. Ron, D. F. Cisneros-Heredia, S. F. McCracken, and W. Lamar.  2006.  A new species of frog of the Eleutherodactylus lacrimosus assemblage

            (Leptodactylidae) from the western Amazon Basin, with comments on the utility of canopy surveys in lowland rainforest. Herpetologica 62: 191-202.   (PDF)

McCracken, S.F. and Michael R.J. Forstner. 2006.  Bufo margaritifer – Geophagy.  Herpetological Review 37(2): 72-73.    (PDF)

McCracken, S.F., J.R. Dixon, and M.R.J. Forstner. 2005. Geographic Distribution. Agkistrodon piscivorous leucostoma.  Herpetological Review 36(3): 338. 

 

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

 

Forstner, M.R.J., D. J. McHenry, J.T. Jackson, S.F. McCracken, M. Gaston, P. Crump, and J.R. Dixon. 2007. Houston toad metapopulation assessment and genetics: data necessary for effective

            recovery strategies in a significantly fragmented landscape. Annual Report: Submitted to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department & the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Forstner,M.R.J., J. Bell, S.F. McCracken, and J.R. Dixon. 2007. Minimizing wildlife-motorists interactions. Annual Report: Submitted to Texas Department of Transportation.
Bass, M., R. Bilsborrow, R.J. Burnham, C. Canaday, M. De Angelo, L.J. Dew, A. Di Fiore, J. Greenberg, G. Harper, P. Herbertson, M. Finer, M. Franzen, H. Kreft,

S.F. McCracken, A. Mertl, N. Pitman, T. Quesenberry, and G. Villa. 2004. Technical advisory report on: the biodiversity of Yasuni national park, its conservation significance, the impacts

of roads therein, and our position statement.  Amicus Curiae for court cases pending on the Petrobras license for Block 31 in Ecuador.    (PDF)

McCracken, S.F. 2002-2008. The TADPOLE Organization website.  http://www.tadpoleorg.org/

McCracken, S.F. 2000. The TADPOLE organization: an introduction to our mission.  Informative brochure.

 

PRESENTATIONS

 

McCracken, S.F. 2006.  Amphibians and human coexistence.  Invited speaker to Webelos Winter Camp, Boy Scouts of America. Bastrop, Texas, December 29, 2006.

McCracken, S.F. and Forstner, M.R.J.  Does the canopy hold a missing piece of the Amazon rainforest amphibian diversity?  New species from a new frontier in Yasunν National

            Park - Amazonian Ecuador. Texas State Biology Colloquium, San Marcos, Texas, February 24, 2006.

Herbertson, P., McCracken, S.F., Mulligan, M.  Can GIS tools be applied to model amphibian distributions? Preliminary results from Yasuni National Park – Amazonian Ecuador.

            Texas Herpetological Symposium, Austin, Texas. November 19, 2005.

McCracken, S.F. 2005.  Using a topographical wetness index to model amphibian distribution in a GIS: Work from Yasuni National Park – Amazonian Ecuador.  Texas State

            Biology Colloquium, San Marcos, Texas, March 30, 2005. Awarded Best Undergraduate Presentation.

McCracken, S.F. 2004.  Towards a GIS model of amphibian diversity, distribution and density: work from Yasuni National Park.  Invited speaker for GEO 2426: Fundamentals of

GIS I course. Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, November 10, 2004.

McCracken, S.F. 2004. Towards a GIS model of amphibian diversity, distribution and density: work from Yasuni National Park. The Tropical Forest Research and Education

            Conference: Yasuni Day.  Mindo, Ecuador, October 11, 2004.

McCracken, S.F. 2003.  Using GIS and amphibian surveys to monitor environmental quality in Amazonia. Tropical Ecology: Universidad San Franciso de Quito, given at Tiputini

            Biodiversity Station, Ecuador. Guest presentation.  May 2004.

McCracken, S.F. 2003.  Using GIS and amphibian surveys to monitor environmental quality in Amazonia. Tropical Ecology: Washington University – study abroad program, given

            at Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Ecuador. Guest presentation.  April 2003.

McCracken, S.F. 2003.  Using GIS and amphibian surveys to monitor environmental quality in Amazonia. Tropical Ecology: Boston University - study abroad program, given at

            Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Ecuador. Guest Presentation.  March 2003.

McCracken, S.F. 2002.  Using GIS and amphibian surveys to monitor environmental quality in Amazonia. Tropical Ecology: Boston University, given at Tiputini Biodiversity

            Station, Ecuador. Guest presentation. November 2002.

McCracken, S.F. 2002.  Ecuadorian Amazon ecotourism.  Invited speaker for Amazon Ecotourism – extended learning course.  University of Houston, Clear Lake, Texas, June

            23, 2002.

  

FUNDING

           

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. 2007. 3 years.
Eben/Ellege Award. Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas. 2007 – 2008. Award declined as a consequence of NSF Graduate Fellowship conflict.

Associated Student Government Scholarship, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.  Fall 2007 – Spring 2008. Award declined as a consequence of NSF Graduate Fellowship conflict.
Texas State University Graduate College Scholarship, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas. 2007 – 2008.

Associated Student Government Scholarship, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.  Fall 2006 – Spring 2007.

Russell and Ruth Strandtmann Field Biology Development Award, Texas State University – Biology Department. San Marcos, Texas.  April 22, 2005.  $200.

Finding Species Travel Grant, Presentation - “Towards a GIS model of amphibian diversity, distribution and density: work from Yasuni National Park,” The Tropical Forest Research

            and Education Conference: Yasuni Day.  Mindo, Ecuador, October 8-13, 2004, $4,000.

TADPOLE Benefit, Co-coordinator, TADPOLE Research Support - Spring Fundraiser, several artists, musicians and restaurants donated their time and proceeds of sales to

            support summer 2004 field season.  Austin, TX, April 2004.  

TADPOLE - direct mailing campaign, Coordinator – produced letter requesting funds, handled procuring limited edition original artwork prints as donation gift to those contributing

            $25 or more and managed entire mailing effort. Support for fall 2002 field season.  Austin, TX, summer 2002.

 

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

 

Best Graduate Presentation, Biology Student Colloquium – sponsored by Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society (Tri-Beta Honor Society). Detection of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in amphibians from the forest floor to the upper canopy of an Ecuadorian Amazon lowland rainforest. Texas State University – Biology Department, San Marcos, Texas. April 3, 2009.

Academic Excellence Award – Graduate Student. Texas State University – Biology Department San Marcos, Texas. 2008.

Academic Excellence Award – Graduate Student. Texas State University – Biology Department San Marcos, Texas. 2007.
Outstanding Graduate Student – nominee. Texas State University – Biology Department, San Marcos, Texas. 2007.
Academic Excellence Award – Graduate Student. Texas State University – Biology Department San Marcos, Texas. 2006.

Best Undergraduate Presentation, Biology Student Colloquium – sponsored by Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society (Tri-Beta Honor Society).  Using a topographical wetness index to model amphibian distribution in a GIS: Work from Yasuni National Park – Amazonian Ecuador.  March 30, 2005.

Outstanding Undergraduate Award – nominee.  Texas State University – Biology Department.  Spring 2005.

 

REFERENCES

(upon request)