Research Assistant Professor Department of Biology Texas State University smccracken[at]txstate.edu _______________________________________________ Executive Director/Founder TADPOLE Organization smccracken[at]tadpoleorg.org

Assistant Professor
Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi shawn.mccracken[at]tamucc.edu

Shawn F. McCracken

Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
Department of Life Sciences
6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5800
Corpus Christi, Texas 78412-5800
email: shawn.mccracken[at]tamucc.edu

EDUCATION

2012                        Ph. D. Aquatic Resources, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.                                                                      Dissertation: Environmental quality effects and the ecological context of a                                                        rainforest canopy bromeliad fauna. Advisor: Michael R. J. Forstner
2005                        B. A. Biology, Texas State University, S Marcos, Texas. cum laude.

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

2020-Present     Assistant Professor, Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
2017-2020           Director of Educational Research and Program Development, Third Millennium Alliance,                                                                                     Reserva Jama-Coaque, Manabi, Ecuador
2017-2020           Adjunct Professor/Extension Faculty, Texas State University-Department of Biology
2014-2017           Research Assistant Professor, Texas State University-Department of Biology
2013-2014           Adjunct Graduate Faculty, Texas State University-Department of Biology
2012-2014           Postdoctoral Research Associate, Texas State University-Department of Biology
                                    (Advisor: Michael R. J. Forstner)
2005-2008           Assistant Curator -MRJF Frozen Tissue Collection, Texas State University-Department of Biology

FELLOWSHIPS, AWARDS, HONORS

National Science Foundation Doctoral Research Fellowship (GK12). Texas State University. 2010-2012.

Best Presentation, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles – Henri Seibert Award in Conservation – Living on the edge: Oil road effects on the abundance and occupancy of anurans inhabiting an upper canopy tank bromeliad (Aechmea zebrina) in lowland rainforest of the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve, Amazonian Ecuador, 7th World Congress of Herpetology, Vancouver, Canada. August 8-14, 2012.

Best Graduate Presentation (runner-up), Biology Student Colloquium – Anthropogenic and ecological effects on anurans inhabiting an upper canopy tank bromeliad (Aechmea zebrina) in lowland rainforest of the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve, Amazonian Ecuador. Texas State University – Biology Department. March 23, 2012.

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. Texas State University. 2007-2010.

Best Graduate Presentation, Biology Student Colloquium – 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. April 3, 2009.

Academic Excellence Award – Graduate Student. Texas State University – Biology Department. 2006-2008.

Brightest Star Award – Graduate Student. Texas State University. 2007.

Outstanding Graduate Student – nominee. Texas State University – Biology Department. 2006-2007.

Best Undergraduate Presentation, Biology Student Colloquium – Using a topographical wetness index to model amphibian distribution in a GIS: Work from Yasuni National Park – Amazonian Ecuador. Texas State University – Biology Department. March 30, 2005.

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

GRANTS, CONTRACTS, SCHOLARSHIPS

Benchmark, Inc. Detecting occurrence of Houston toads in Robertson County with development of avoidance and minimization measures for energy industry exploration and production. PI: M.R.J. Forstner (TSU Biology), CO-PI(s): S.F. McCracken (TSU Biology) and D. Rodriguez (TSU Biology). 2014: $440,671

Texas Parks and Wildlife: State Wildlife Grant. Using an extensively documented and validated habitat suitability model for conservation management of the Texas tortoise, Gopherus berlandieri, defining its status in the coastal prairies and eastern range. PI: S.F. McCracken, CO-PI(s): M.R.J. Forstner (TSU Biology) and D. Rodriguez (TSU Biology). 2014: $40,137

Texas Parks and Wildlife. Testing habitat recovery options for the Houston toad in Bastrop State Park, Bastrop, TX. PI: M.R.J. Forstner (TSU Biology), CO-PI(s): S.F. McCracken (TSU Biology) and D. Rodriguez (TSU Biology). Jul 14-Aug 16, 2014: $65,024

Bastrop County, Texas. Houston toad management and recovery options during roadway repair and fire restoration in Bastrop County, Texas. PI: D. Rodriguez (TSU Biology), CO-PI(s): M.R.J. Forstner (TSU Biology) and S.F. McCracken (TSU Biology). Jan 14-Dec 14, 2014: $150,000

Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles: Student Travel Award. Living on the edge: Oil road effects on the abundance and occupancy of anurans inhabiting an upper canopy tank bromeliad (Aechmea zebrina) in lowland rainforest of the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve, Amazonian Ecuador. World Congress of Herpetology, Vancouver, Canada, August 8-14, 2012: $500

The Explorer’s Club: Exploration Fund. Environmental Quality Effects and the Ecological Context of a Rainforest Canopy Bromeliad Fauna. 2010: $2,500

William E. (Henry) Norris, Jr. Scholarship, Texas State University – Biology Department. Environmental Quality Effects and the Ecological Context of a Rainforest Canopy Bromeliad Fauna. 2010: $500

Howard D. Schulze Biology Scholarship, Texas State University – Biology Department. Environmental Quality Effects and the Ecological Context of a Rainforest Canopy Bromeliad Fauna. 2010: $500

Texas State University Graduate College Scholarship, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas. 2007 – 2010: $2,500/yr (3x one year competitive awards)

Texas State University Graduate College, Dean’s Office, and Department of Biology, Travel awards, presentation at the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Portland, Oregon, July 10, 2009: $1,000

Associated Student Government Scholarship, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas. 2006 – 2009: $2,000/yr (3x one year competitive awards)

Sigma Xi – The Scientific Research Society, Grants-in-Aid of Research. December 2008: $750

Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation Travel Award, invited presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation. Paramaribo, Suriname, June 11, 2008: $500

Texas State University Graduate College, Dean’s Office, and Department of Biology, Travel awards, invited presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation. Paramaribo, Suriname, June 11, 2008: $1,000

Texas Academy of Science, Annual Student Research Award – Ph.D. March 7, 2008: $500

Eben/Ellege Award. Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas. 2007 – 2008: $5,000 (Declined this award as a consequence of NSF Graduate Fellowship conflict)

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

PUBLICATIONS/SUBMITTED MANUSCRIPTS

McCracken, S.F. and M.R.J. Forstner. Ecology and microclimate of a high canopy tank bromeliad, Aechmea zebrina, in Amazonian Ecuador. Journal of the Bromeliad Society. submitted.

McCracken, S.F. and M.R.J. Forstner. 2014. Herpetofaunal community of a high canopy tank bromeliad (Aechmea zebrina) in the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve of Amazonian Ecuador, with comments on the use of “arboreal” in the herpetological literature. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 8(1) Special Section: in press.

McCracken, S.F. and M.R.J. Forstner. 2014. Oil road effects on the anuran community of a high canopy tank bromeliad (Aechmea zebrina) in the upper Amazon Basin, Ecuador. PLoS ONE 9(1): e85470. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0085470.

Bass, M., M. Finer, C. Jenkins, H. Kreft, D. Cisneros-Heredia, S.F. McCracken, N. Pitman, and P. English, K. Swing, G. Villa, A. Di Fiore, C.C. Voigt, and T.H. Kunz. 2010. Global conservation significance of Ecuador’s Yasuní National Park. PLoS ONE – Biology 5(1): e8767.

McCracken, S.F., J.P. Gaertner, M.R.J. Forstner, and D. Hahn. 2009. Detection of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in amphibians from the forest floor to the upper canopy of an Ecuadorian Amazon lowland rainforest. Herpetological Review 40(2): 190-195.

McCracken, S.F. and M.R.J. Forstner. 2008. Bromeliad patch sampling protocol for canopy herpetofauna in neotropical forests. Herpetological Review 39(2): 170-174.

McCracken, S.F., C. Stinson, P. Keller, and M.R.J. Forstner. 2007. Geographic Distribution. Holbrookia propinqua propinqua. Herpetological Review 38(4): 484.

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

McCracken, S.F., M.R.J. Forstner, and J.R. Dixon. 2007. A new species of the Eleutherodactylus lacrimosus assemblage (Anura, Brachycephalidae)from the lowland rainforest canopy of Yasuni National Park, Amazonian Ecuador. Phyllomedusa – Journal of Neotropical Herpetology 6(1): 21-33.

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.

Guayasamin, J.M., S.R. Ron, D.F. Cisneros-Heredia, W. Lamar, and S.F. McCracken. 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.

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

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

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

McCracken, S.F., 2012, Canopy Research. In: Yasuní Tiputini & The Web of Life. P. Oxford, R. Bish, and K. Swing. Pp. 245-250. Ingwe Press, Quito, Ecuador.

Forstner, M.R.J., J. Dixon, S.F. McCracken, and D. Stout. 2012. Houston toad – 2012 chorusing survey: Final report. Project report submitted to Bastrop County, USFWS, and our collaborating partners. 14 pgs.

Forstner, M.R.J. and S.F. McCracken. 2012. Houston toad recovery project in response to Bastrop county complex fire 2012. Project report submitted to Texas Department of Transportation. 8 pgs.

Forstner, M.R.J.,  D.J. McHenry, M. Gaston, L. Villalobos, P. Crump, S.F. McCracken, J.T. Jackson, T. Swannack, J. Bell, J. Gaertner, S. Mays, D. Hahn, and J.R. Dixon. 2007.Final Technical Report.  The Houston toad 2007: Annual research and monitoring.  Submitted to the USFWS and our collaborating partners.  20 pgs.

Forstner, M.R.J., D.J. McHenry, J.T. Jackson, S.F. McCracken, M. Gaston, P. Crump, and J.R. Dixon. 2007. Annual Report. Houston toad metapopulation assessment and genetics: Data necessary for effective recovery strategies in a significantly fragmented landscape. Annual report submitted to TPWD/USFWS. 8 pgs.

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.

COURSES TAUGHT

Spring 2014 – BIO 7434: Herpetology, Texas State University
Spring 2014 – BIO 4434: Herpetology, Texas State University

Spring 2013 – BIO 7434: Herpetology, Texas State University
Spring 2013 – BIO 4434: Herpetology, Texas State University

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/SERVICE

Manuscript reviewer – Diversity and Distributions, Ecohealth, Biodiversity and Conservation, Journal of Herpetology, Herpetological Review.
Board member – Finding Species, Takoma Park, Maryland. 2013-Present.
Federal Endangered Species Monitor (Houston toad compliance) – USFWS, FEMA, TXDOT, Bastrop County (Texas), and Waterlife. 2012-Present.
Conservation advisor (Species Programme Trustee) – Healthy Planet Foundation, London, England. 2008-Present.
Executive Director/Founder – The TADPOLE Organization. 1999-Present.
Judge – oral presentations, Biology Student Colloquium, Texas State University – Biology Department. March 2014.
Judge – oral presentations, Biology Student Colloquium, Texas State University – Biology Department. March 2013.
Instructors (Course: Frogs!) – Kid’s U – University of Houston-Clear Lake. 2002-2003.

INVITED TALKS, LECTURES, PRESENTATIONS

McCracken, S.F. and M.R.J. Forstner. Impacts of a rainforest oil road on the anuran community of a high canopy tank bromeliad and genetic implications at the landscape scale. The Tropical Forest Research and Education Conference: Yasuni Day, Mindo, Ecuador. Invited Speaker. October 11-13, 2013. Invited speaker.

McCracken, S.F. and M.R.J. Forstner. Crisis in the canopy: Oil road effects on an Amazonian high canopy anuran community. Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation Annual Meeting, San Jose, Costa Rica. June 23-27, 2013.

McCracken, S.F. and M.R.J. Forstner. Living on the edge: Oil road effects on the abundance and occupancy of anurans inhabiting an upper canopy tank bromeliad (Aechmea zebrina) in lowland rainforest of the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve, Amazonian Ecuador. 7th World Congress of Herpetology, Vancouver, Canada. August 8-14, 2012. Awarded Best Presentation in Conservation.

McCracken, S.F. and M.R.J. Forstner. Anthropogenic and ecological effects on anurans inhabiting an upper canopy tank bromeliad (Aechmea zebrina) in lowland rainforest of the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve, Amazonian Ecuador. Texas State Biology Colloquium, San Marcos, Texas. March 23, 2012. Awarded Best Graduate Presentation Runner-up.

McCracken, S.F. Interests and reasons why scientists are involved in the conservation of Yasuni. Vida Amazonia – Científicos preocupados por Yasuní y el panorama (sponsored by United Nations), Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador. October 12, 2011. Invited speaker.

McCracken, S.F. Environmental quality effects and the ecological context of vertically stratified rainforest canopy fauna. Conservation Biology in the Tropics: The College of Wooster – study abroad program, given at Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Ecuador. July 24, 2010. Guest Presentation.

McCracken, S. and M.R.J. Forstner. 2011. Multi-rotor UAVS- A new tool for biologists. Texas State Biology Student Colloquium, San Marcos, Texas. Apr 1, 2011.

McCracken, S.F., J.P. Gaertner, M.R.J. Forstner, and D. Hahn. Amphibian chytrid fungus across the vertical strata of an Amazonian lowland rainforest. Texas State University International Research Conference, San Marcos, Texas. November 10, 2009.

McCracken, S.F., J.P. Gaertner, M.R.J. Forstner, and D. Hahn. Crisis in the Canopy? Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in canopy-dwelling amphibians of an Ecuadorian Amazon lowland rainforest. Texas State Biology Colloquium, San Marcos, Texas. April 3, 2009. Awarded Best Graduate Presentation.

McCracken, S.F., J.P. Gaertner, M.R.J. Forstner, and D. Hahn. Detection of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in amphibians from the forest floor to the upper canopy of an Ecuadorian Amazon lowland rainforest. Texas Academy of Science Annual Meeting, Junction, Texas. March 6, 2009.

McCracken, S.F. Environmental quality effects and the ecological context of vertically stratified rainforest canopy fauna. Tropical Ecology: Wright State University – study abroad program, given at Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Ecuador. December 6, 2008. Guest Presentation.

McCracken, S.F. Environmental quality effects and the ecological context of vertically stratified rainforest canopy fauna. Universidad San Francisco de Quito – Biology Department, Quito, Ecuador. November 24, 2008. Invited seminar speaker.

McCracken, S.F. Environmental quality effects and the ecological context of vertically stratified rainforest canopy fauna. Tropical Ecology: Boston University – study abroad program, given at Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Ecuador. November 8, 2008. Guest Presentation.

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 Yasuní National Park – Amazonian Ecuador. Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation Annual Meeting, Paramaribo, Suriname. June 11, 2008. Invited symposium speaker, Diversity in the Canopy: Causes & Consequences.

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 Yasuní National Park – Amazonian Ecuador. Texas Academy of Science Annual Meeting, Corpus Christi, Texas. March 7, 2008.

McCracken, S.F. Reproductive ecology and behavior of Eleutherodactylus aureolineatus (Anura, Brachycephalidae) in the canopy of the Upper Amazon Basin, Ecuador. Texas State Biology Colloquium, San Marcos, Texas. March 30, 2007.

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

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 Yasuní National Park – Amazonian Ecuador. Texas State Biology Colloquium, San Marcos, Texas. February 24, 2006.

Herbertson, P., McCracken, S.F., and 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. 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. Towards a GIS model of amphibian diversity, distribution and density: work from Yasuni National Park. Fundementals of GIS I (GEO 2426), Texas State University-Department of Geography. November 10, 2004. Invited speaker.

McCracken, S.F. 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. Invited speaker.

McCracken, S.F. Using GIS and amphibian surveys to monitor environmental quality in Amazonia. Tropical Ecology: Universidad San Franciso de Quito, given at Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Ecuador. May 2004. Guest presentation.

McCracken, S.F. Using GIS and amphibian surveys to monitor environmental quality in Amazonia. Tropical Ecology: Washington University – study abroad program, given at Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Ecuador. April 2003. Guest presentation.

McCracken, S.F. Using GIS and amphibian surveys to monitor environmental quality in Amazonia. Tropical Ecology: Boston University – study abroad program, given at Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Ecuador. March 2003. Guest Presentation.

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

McCracken, S.F. Ecuadorian Amazon ecotourism. Amazon Ecotourism – extended learning course, University of Houston, Clear Lake, Texas, June 23, 2002. Invited speaker.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPS

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS/Science Program for Excellence in Science)

American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists

Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation

Healthy Planet Foundation, Trustee – Species Programme

Herpetologists’ League

International Society for the Study and Conservation of Amphibians

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 Academy of Science

Texas Herpetological Society

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