EDUCATION

2005 – present PhD., Biology (expected 2010). Florida International University. Miami, Florida. G.P.A.: 3.952. Dissertation Title: Faunal Declines at La Selva Biological Station: Pattern and Process in a Collapsing Tropical Herpetofauna. Advisor: Dr. Maureen A. Donnelly.

2002 - 2005 M.S., Biology. Florida International University. Miami, Florida. G.P.A.: 3.958. Thesis Title: Trophic ecology and seasonality of a neotropical leaf-litter herpetofauna. Advisor: Dr. Maureen A. Donnelly.

2003 Tropical Biology: An Ecological Approach. Organization for Tropical Studies.

1996 - 2000 B. A., B. S. Biology. The Evergreen State College. Olympia, Washington. G.P.A.: N/A.
 

PUBLICATIONS ( - CLICK FOR PDF)

2007

Whitfield, S. M., K. E. Bell, T. Philippi, M. Sasa, F. Bolaños, G. Chaves, J. M. Savage, and M. A. Donnelly. 2007. Amphibian and reptile declines over 35 years at La Selva, Costa Rica. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 104(20):8352-8356.

Supplementary Information

Commentary

Links to Media Attention

Current Research Page

2006

Whitfield, S. M. and M. A. Donnelly. 2006. Ontogenetic and seasonal variation in the diets of a Costa Rican leaf-litter herpetofauna. Journal of Tropical Ecology 22:409-417.

2005

Whitfield, S. M. and M. S. F. Pierce. 2005. Tree buttress microhabitat use by a neotropical leaf-litter herpetofauna. Journal of Herpetology 39(2): 192-198.

IN REVIEW

Whitfield, S. M. and M. A. Donnelly. (in review at Copeia). Community structure of a Costa Rican leaf-litter herpetofauna: trophic and seasonal niche dimensions.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES   (SHORT  EDITOR-REVIEWED CONTRIBUTIONS)

2006

Whitfield, S. M. 2006. Norops humilis. (Ground Anole). Kleptoparasitism. Herpetological Review 37(2):225.

Whitfield, S. M. 2006. Eleutherodactylus diastema. (Common Tink Frog). Reproduction. Herpetological Review 37(3): 336-337.

2003

Whitfield, S. M. and M. S. F. Pierce. 2003. Eleutherodactylus noblei (NCN). Reproduction and Parental Care. Herpetological Review 34(4): 357-358.

IN PRESS

Whitfield, S. M., S. Greenspan, S. Miller. (in press) Craugastor talamancae (NCN). Reproduction and Nest Attendance. Herpetological Review.

 

THESES AND UNPUBLISHED REPORTS
Whitfield, S. M. 2005. Trophic ecology and seasonality of a neotropical leaf-litter herpetofauna. M. S. thesis. Florida International University, Miami, Florida.

Thurgate, N. Y., J. H. K. Pechmann, and S. M. Whitfield. 2002. Demography and movements of Gopher Frogs in Mississippi. Unpublished Report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS
2005 – 2008 Presidential Fellowship. Florida International University.

2007             Student Travel Award. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles.
2006             Conference Travel Award. FIU Graduate Student Association.

2005             Conference Travel Award. FIU Graduate Student Association.
2005             Student Travel Award. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.
2004             Conference Travel Award. FIU Graduate Student Association.
2003             Website Design Competition. First Place, FIU Graduate Student Association.
 

RESEARCH GRANTS

2006     Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research. American Philosophical Society. $4000.
2006     Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Grant. American Museum of Natural History. $1500.
2006     Graduate Student Research Grant. Florida International University Graduate Student Association. $500.

2006     Tinker Field Grant. Tinker Foundation and Florida International University Latin American and Caribbean Center. $2400.
2005     Graduate Student Research Grant. Florida International University Graduate Student Association. $500.
2005     OTS Research Fellowship. Organization for Tropical Studies. $3000.
2004     Grants-in-Herpetology: Field Research. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. $500.
2003     Grants-in-Aid of Research. Sigma Xi. $750.
2003     Post-Course Research Award. Organization for Tropical Studies $480.
2003     Gaige Fund Award. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. $500.
2003     Graduate Student Research Grant. Florida International University Graduate Student Association. $500.
 

RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS (* INDICATES PRESENTER)

INVITED PRESENTATIONS
2007

Whitfield, S. M.,* K. E. Bell, T. Philippi, M. Sasa, F. Bolaños, G. Chaves, J. M. Savage, and M. A. Donnelly. 2007. Amphibian and reptile declines over 35 years at La Selva: Patterns and Potential Processes. Tropical Forests in Transition: La Selva as a Case Study. Organization for Tropical Studies.

2006

Whitfield, S. M.,* K. E. Bell, T. Philippi, M. Sasa, F. Bolaños, G. Chaves, J. M. Savage, and M. A. Donnelly. 2006. Faunal declines over 35 years at La Selva, Costa Rica: More trouble in paradise? Joint Meeting of American Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Special Symposium of RANA: Research and Analysis Network for Neotropical Amphibians

ORAL PRESENTATIONS
2007

Whitfield, S. M.* and M. A. Donnelly. Amphibian and reptile declines at La Selva, Costa Rica: Patterns and processes in a collapsing tropical herpetofauna. Joint Meeting of American Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.

2006

Whitfield, S. M., K. E. Bell, T. Philippi, M. Sasa, F. Bolaños, G. Chaves, J. M. Savage, and M. A. Donnelly*. Amphibian and reptile declines over 35 years at La Selva, Costa Rica: More trouble in paradise? Coalition for Excellence in Tropical Biology Symposium.
Whitfield, S. M.,* K. E. Bell, T. Philippi, M. Sasa, F. Bolaños, G. Chaves, J. M. Savage, and M. A. Donnelly. Amphibian and reptile declines over 35 years at La Selva, Costa Rica. Ecological Society of America.
Whitfield, S. M.* Faunal declines over 35 years at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica: Is there trouble in paradise? FIU Graduate Students Association Scholarly Forum.
Whitfield, S. M.,* K. E. Bell, T. Philippi, M. Sasa, and M. A. Donnelly. Faunal declines over 35 years at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica: Is there trouble in paradise? FIU Biology Symposium.

2005

Whitfield, S. M.* and M. A. Donnelly. Community structure of a Costa Rican leaf-litter herpetofauna: prey use and seasonal activity. Joint Meeting of American Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.
Bell, K. E., S. M. Whitfield, M. Sasa, and M. A. Donnelly.* Population variability of a leaf-litter herpetofauna at La Selva, Costa Rica: seasonal and long-term trends. Joint Meeting of American Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.
Whitfield, S. M.* Community structure of a Costa Rican leaf-litter herpetofauna: trophic and seasonal niche dimensions. FIU Graduate Students Association Scholarly Forum.
Whitfield, S. M.* and M. A. Donnelly. Trophic Ecology of a Neotropical Leaf-Litter Herpetofauna. FIU Biology Symposium.

2004

Whitfield, S. M.* and M. S. F. Pierce. Tree Buttress Microhabitat Utilization by a Neotropical Leaf-Litter Herpetofauna. FIU Graduate Students Association Scholarly Forum.

POSTER PRESENTATIONS
2005

Whitfield, S. M.* and M. S. F. Pierce. 2005. Tree Buttress Microhabitat Utilization by a Neotropical Leaf-Litter Herpetofauna. FIU Graduate Students Association Scholarly Forum.

2004

Whitfield, S. M.* and M. S. F. Pierce. 2004. Tree Buttress Microhabitat Utilization by a Neotropical Leaf-Litter Herpetofauna. Joint Meeting of American Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.
Whitfield, S. M.* and M. S. F. Pierce. 2004. Tree Buttress Microhabitat Utilization by a Neotropical Leaf-Litter Herpetofauna. FIU Biology Symposium.

RESEARCH EMPLOYMENT
2002     Temporary Research Associate. University of New Orleans. New Orleans, Louisiana. Population monitoring of the critically endangered Dusky Gopher Frog, Rana sevosa.
2001     Field Research Assistant. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Champaign, Illinois. Movement patterns, mating systems and reproductive ecology of Bartlett’s Tinamous in Manu National Park, southeastern Peru.
2001     Field Botany Intern. University of Puerto Rico. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Vegetation censuses on a study of long-term forest dynamics in the Luquillo National Forest of Puerto Rico.
2000     Wildlife Technician. Clemson University. Clemson, South Carolina. Assessment of impact of introduced fire ants on coastal plain amphibian, reptile, and small mammal communities.
 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
 

LABORATORY COURSES TAUGHT
2006     Introduction to Ecology Laboratory. Florida International University.
2005     General Biology I Laboratory. Florida International University.
2005     Tropical Plant Taxonomy Laboratory. Florida International University.
2004     Introduction to Ecology Laboratory. Florida International University.
2004     General Biology II Laboratory. Florida International University.
2004     Introduction to Ecology Laboratory. Florida International University.
2003     Introduction to Ecology Laboratory. Florida International University.
2003     Introduction to Marine Biology Laboratory. Florida International University.
2003     General Biology II Laboratory. Florida International University.
2002     General Biology I Laboratory. Florida International University.

UNDERGRADUATE ADVISING EXPERIENCE

2007    Mentor. Research Experience for Undergraduates Program.  National Science Foundation and La Selva Biological Station.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

2007     Researcher Representative and Seminar Series Coordinator. La Selva Biological Station.    
2007     Solicited Reviewer. Herpetologica.
2006     Solicited Reviewer. Conservation Biology.
2005     Solicited Reviewer. Journal of Zoology.
2005     Solicited Reviewer. Herpetological Review.


PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
1999 – 2007     Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
2002 – 2007     American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
2002 – 2004     Animal Behaviour Society
2003                Herpetologists’ League
2006 – 2007     Ecological Society of America
2007                Society for Conservation Biology




                    ***REFERENCES AND TRANSCRIPTS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST***