Dr. Steven M. Whitfield
Conservation + Science + Education
Curriculum Vitae
Education
2011 Ph.D., Biology. Florida International University. Miami, Florida.
2005 M.S., Biology. Florida International University. Miami, Florida.
2000 B.A., B.S. Biology. The Evergreen State College. Olympia, Washington.
Positions Held
2023 - Present Director of Terrestrial and Wetlands Conservation. Audubon Nature Institute.
2023 - Present Affiliate Scientist and Graduate Faculty. Florida Atlantic University.
2015 – Present Research Associate and Graduate Faculty. Florida International University.
2015 – 2023 Conservation and Research Specialist. Zoo Miami.
2013 – 2015 Lecturer. Gonzaga University.
2013 Resident Lecturer. The School for Field Studies.
2011 – 2012 Postdoctoral Researcher. University of South Dakota.
2002 Research Associate. University of New Orleans.
2001 Field Research Assistant. Cocha Cashu Biological Station.
2001 Field Botany Intern. University of Puerto Rico.
2000 Wildlife Technician. Clemson University.
Publications
Peer-reviewed (* indicates undergraduate researcher, § indicates high school teacher)
2022
Whitfield, S.M., D. Valle§, A. Figueroa, B. Chin*, H. Bravo-Gallegos*, F. Leone*. 2022. Burrow characteristics and habitat associations of gopher tortoises in urban pine rockland reserves (Miami, Florida, USA). Ichthyology and Herpetology 110(1): 22-32
2021
Moore, T., F. Ridgley, S.M. Whitfield, S. Sayre.* 2021. Life history, taxonomy, and ecology of the Faithful Beauty Moth, Composia fidellissima vagrans (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Pericopina) in the pine rocklands of south Florida. Tropical Lepidoptera Research 31(3):151-157 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5776933
Whitfield, S.M., J.M. Patterson, A. Pernas, M. Davis, J.J. Lorenz, F.N. Ridgley. 2021. Satellite telemetry reveals habitat selection and movement patterns of an American Flamingo in Florida Bay. Florida Field Naturalist 49:58-81
Figueroa, A.*, J. Lange, S.M. Whitfield. 2021. Seed consumption by gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) in the globally imperiled pine rockland ecosystem of southern Florida, USA. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 20:27-34 DOI: 10.2744/CCB-1426.1
Whitfield, S.M., G. Alvarado-Barboza, J.G. Abarca, H. Zumbado-Ulate, R. R. Jimenez, J.L. Kerby. 2021. Ranavirus is widespread in Costa Rica and co-occurs with threatened amphibians. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 144:89-98. DOI: 10.3354/dao03576
Abarca, J.C., S.M. Whitfield, I. Zuniga, G. Alvarado, J. Kerby, C. Murillo-Cruz, A. Pinto-Tomas. 2021. Genotyping and differential bacterial inhibition of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in threatened amphibians in Costa Rica. Microbiology. DOI 10.1099/mic.0.001017
2020
Scheele, B.C., F. Pasmans, L. Berger, L. Skerratt, A. Martel, W. Beukema, A.A. Acevedo, P.A. Burrowes, T. Carvalho, A. Catenazzi, I. De La Riva, M.C. Fisher, S.V. Flechas, C.N. Foster, P. Frías-Álvarez, T.W.J. Garner, B. Gratwicke, J. M. Guayasamin, M. Hirschfeld, J.E. Kolby, T. A. Kosch, E. La Marca, D.B. Lindenmayer, K.R. Lips, A.V. Longo, R. Maneyro, C.A. McDonald, J. Mendelson III, P. Palacios-Rodriguez, G. Parra-Olea, C.L. Richards-Zawacki, M. Rödel, S.M. Rovito, C. Soto-Azat, L.F. Toledo, J. Voyles, C. Weldon, S.M. Whitfield, M. Wilkinson, K.R. Zamudio, S. Canessa. 2020. Response to Comment on “Amphibian fungal panzootic reveals unprecedented loss of biodiversity.” Science 367:6484. DOI: 10.1126/science.aay2905
2019
Mendelson, J.R.III, S.M. Whitfield, M.J. Sredl. 2019. A recovery engine strategy for amphibian conservation in the context of disease. Biological Conservation 236:188-191. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.05.025
Zumbado-Ulate, H., K. Nelson, A. García-Rodríguez, G. Chaves, E. Arias, F. Bolaños, S.M. Whitfield, C.L. Searle. 2019. Endemic infection of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Costa Rica: Implications for amphibian conservation at regional and species level. Diversity 11(8): 129. DOI: 10.3390/d11080129
Scheele, B.C., F. Pasmans, L. Berger, L. Skerratt, A. Martel, W. Beukema, A.A. Acevedo, P.A. Burrowes, T. Carvalho, A. Catenazzi, I. De La Riva, M.C. Fisher, S.V. Flechas, C.N. Foster, P. Frías-Álvarez, T.W.J. Garner, B. Gratwicke, J. M. Guayasamin, M. Hirschfeld, J.E. Kolby, T. A. Kosch, E. La Marca, D.B. Lindenmayer, K.R. Lips, A.V. Longo, R. Maneyro, C.A. McDonald, J. Mendelson III, P. Palacios-Rodriguez, G. Parra-Olea, C.L. Richards-Zawacki, M. Rödel, S.M. Rovito, C. Soto-Azat, L.F. Toledo, J. Voyles, C. Weldon, S.M. Whitfield, M. Wilkinson, K.R. Zamudio, S. Canessa. 2019. Amphibian fungal panzootic reveals unprecedented loss of biodiversity. Science 363:1459-1463. DOI: 10.1126/science.aav0379
Kueneman, J. M.C. Bletz , V.J. McKenzie , G. C. Becker , M. Joseph , J.G. Abarca , H.M. Archer, L. Arellano , A. Bataille , M. H. Becker, L. K. Belden , A. Crottini, R. Geffers , C.F. Haddad, R.N. Harris , W.M. Holden , M.C. Hughey , B. Waldman, M. Jarek, J. Kerby, J. Kielgast, A. Kurabayashi , A.V. Longo, A. Loudon, D. Medina , J.J. Nuñez , B.R.G. Perl , A.A. Pinto-Tomás , F.C.E. Rabemananjara, E.A Rebollar, A. Rodríguez, L.A. Rollins-Smith, R. Stevenson, C.C. Tebbe , G. Vargas Asensio, J.B. Walke , S.M. Whitfield, K.R. Zamudio, I. Zúñiga Chaves, D.C. Woodhams, M. Vences. 2019. Community richness of amphibian skin bacteria correlates with bioclimate at the global scale. Nature Ecology and Evolution. DOI: 10.1038/s41559-019-0798-1
2018
Whitfield, S.M., P. Frezza, F.N. Ridgley, A. Mauro, J.M. Patterson, A. Pernas, J. Lorenz. 2018. Status and trends of American Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) in Florida, USA. The Condor 120(2): 291-304. DOI: 10.1650/CONDOR-17-187.1
Abarca, J.G., G. V Vargas-Asensio, Ibrahim Zúñiga-Chaves, S.M. Whitfield, D.C. Woodhams, J.L. Kerby, V. J. McKenzie, C. Murillo-Cruz, A. Pinto-Tomás. 2018. Assessment of Bacterial Communities Associated with the Skin of Costa Rican Amphibians at La Selva Biological Station. Frontiers in Microbiology. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02001
Whitfield, S.M., F.N. Ridgley, D.Valle*, N. Atteberry. 2018, Seroprevalence of Mycoplasma agassizii and Mycoplasma testudineum in wild and waif Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) in Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA. Herpetological Review 49(1):47-49
Nowakowski, A.J., J.I. Watling, M. Thompson, G. Brusch,* A. Catenazzi, S.M. Whitfield, D. Kurz, A Suarez-Mayorga, A. Aponte-Gutierrez, M.A. Donnelly, B.D. Todd. 2018. Thermal biology mediates responses of amphibians and reptiles to habitat modification. Ecology Letters 21(3):345-355. DOI: 10.1111/ele.12901
Gomez-Hoyos, D.A., S. Escobar-Lasso, R. Seisdedos-de-Vergara, J.G. Abarca, J. Schipper, S.M. Whitfield, G. Alvarado, J.F. Gonzalez-Maya. 2018. Phytotelmata selection by anurans and implications for their conservation at Las Tablas Protected Zone, Costa Rica. Alytes 34:1-11.
2017
Whitfield, S.M., G. Alvarado, J. Abarca, H. Zumbado, M. Wainwright, J.L. Kerby. Differential patterns of infection by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in relict amphibian populations following severe disease-associated declines. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 126:33-41. DOI: 10.3354/dao03154.
Bickford, D.P., R. Alford, M.L. Crump, S.M. Whitfield, N. Karraker, and M. A. Donnelly. 2017. Impacts of Climate Change on Amphibian Biodiversity. Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.10022-3
Madison, J.D., E.A. Berg, J. Abarca Alvarado, S.M. Whitfield, O. Gorbatenko, A. Pinto, J.L. Kerby. 2017. Characterization of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis-inhibiting bacteria from amphibian populations in Costa Rica. Frontiers in Microbiology 8:290 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00290
Nowakowski, A., J. Watling, S.M. Whitfield, B. Todd, D. Kurz, M.A. Donnelly. 2017. Tropical amphibians in shifting thermal landscapes under land use and climate change. Conservation Biology 31(1):96-105. DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12769
2016
Whitfield, S.M., K R. Lips, M.A. Donnelly. Amphibian decline and conservation in Central America. 2016. Copeia 104(2):351–379. DOI: 10.1643/CH-15-300
Alza, C.*, M.A. Donnelly, S.M. Whitfield. 2016. Additive effects of mean temperature, temperature variability, and chlorothalonil to Red-Eyed Treefrog (Agalychnis callidryas) larvae. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 35:12. DOI: 10.1002/etc.3484
Brusch, G.*, E. N. Taylor, S.M. Whitfield. 2016. Turn up the heat: Thermal tolerances of lizards in La Selva, Costa Rica. Oecologia 180(2):325-334. DOI: 10.1007/s00442-015-3467-3
Nowakowski, A.J., S.M. Whitfield, E.A. Eskew, M.E. Thompson, J.P. Rose, B.L. Caraballo§, J.L. Kerby, M.A. Donnelly, B.D. Todd. 2016. Infection risk decreases with increasing mismatch in host and pathogen environmental tolerances. Ecology Letters 19:1051-1061. DOI: 10.1111/ele.12641
2015
Kerby, J.L., S.M. Whitfield. S Ghose, M.A. Donnelly. 2015. Letter to the editor. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 34(1):4-5. DOI: 10.1002/etc.2779
2014
Whitfield, S.M., K. Reider, S. Greenspan, M.A. Donnelly. 2014. Litter dynamics regulate population densities in a declining tropical herpetofauna. Copeia 14(3):454-461. DOI: 10.1643/CE-13-061
Ghose, S.,* M.A. Donnelly, J.L. Kerby, S.M. Whitfield. 2014. Acute toxicity tests and meta-analysis identify gaps in tropical ecotoxicology for amphibians. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 33(9):2114-2119. DOI: 10.1002/etc.2665
2013
Johnson, L.*, B. Welch§, S.M. Whitfield. 2013. Interactive effects of pesticide mixtures, predators, and temperature regimes on the toxicity of two pesticides to Red-Eyed Tree Frog larvae. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 32(10): 2379-2386 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2319
Whitfield, S.M., E. Geerdes*, I. Chacon*, E. Ballesteros, R. Jimenez*, M.A. Donnelly, J.L. Kerby. 2013. Infection and co-infection by the amphibian chytrid fungus and ranavirus in wild Costa Rican frogs. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 104(2):173-178 DOI:10.3354/dao02598
Kerby, J.L., A. Schieffer*, J.R. Brown, S.M. Whitfield. 2013. Utilization of fast qPCR techniques to detect the amphibian chytrid fungus: a cheaper and more efficient alternative. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 4(2):162-166. DOI: 10.1111/j.2041-210x.2012.00263.x
2012
Whitfield, S.M., J.L. Kerby, L.R. Gentry, M.A. Donnelly. 2012. Temporal variation in infection prevalence by the amphibian chytrid fungus in three species of frogs at La Selva, Costa Rica. Biotropica 44(6): 779-784. DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2012.00872.x
Whitfield, S.M. M.A. Donnelly, E. Geerdes*, J. Kerby. 2012. Ranavirus infection in native amphibians at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica: the first report of ranavirus in Central America. Herpetological Review 43(3): 425-427
2007
Whitfield, S.M., K.E. Bell, T. Philippi, M. Sasa, F. Bolaños, G. Chaves, J.M. Savage, 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. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0611256104
2006
Whitfield, S.M., M.A. Donnelly. 2006. Ontogenetic and seasonal variation in the diets of a Costa Rican leaf-litter herpetofauna. Journal of Tropical Ecology. 22(4): 409-417. DOI: 10.1017/S0266467406003245
2005
Whitfield, S.M.*, M.S F. Pierce*. 2005. Tree buttress microhabitat use by a neotropical leaf-litter herpetofauna. Journal of Herpetology 39(2): 192-198. DOI: 10.1670/219-04A
Grants Funded -
2021 iDigBio Workshop Grant: Zoo-Mu 2: Further Linking and Leveraging the Value of Zoo Collections to Advancing Biological Sciences. $34,500
2020 iDigBio Workshop Grant: Enhancing the Value of Zoo Collections to Advancing Biological Sciences. $34,500
2019 REU Site: Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Conservation Science at Zoo Miami (Award #1852297). National Science Foundation. $378,836.
2016 Conservation Grant. Florida Native Plant Society. $5,000.
2015 Donna J. Heinrich Environmental Education Award. Gopher Tortoise Council. $2,000.
2015 Conservation Trust Grant. National Geographic Society. $20,000.
2012 Rufford Small Grant. Rufford Small Grants Foundation. $9,652.
2011 Wildlife Without Borders: Amphibians in Decline. US Fish and Wildlife Service. $47,994.
2011 Tinker Field Grant. Tinker Foundation. $1500.
2006 Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and 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. $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.
Teaching Experience
Lecture Courses
2022 Zoo Conservation Biology. Florida International University.
2019 Zoo Conservation Biology. Florida International University.
2017 Zoo Conservation Biology. Florida International University.
2015 Ecology. Gonzaga University.
2015 Human Ecology. Gonzaga University.
2014 Population Ecology. Gonzaga University.
2014 Human Ecology. Gonzaga University.
2013 Human Ecology. Gonzaga University.
2013 Biological Concepts. Gonzaga University.
2013 Principles of Natural Resource Management. The School for Field Studies.
2013 Tropical Coastal Ecology.The School for Field Studies.
2013 Directed Research. The School for Field Studies.
Field Courses (served as guest faculty, * indicates courses containing graduate students)
2016 Tropical Biology: Skills for Science and Beyond (OTS 16-3)*. Organization for Tropical Studies.
2015 Tropical Biology: An Ecological Approach (OTS 15-3)*. Organization for Tropical Studies.
2015 Tropical Biology: Skills for Science and Beyond (OTS 15-1)*. Organization for Tropical Studies.
2012 Short Course in Tropical Field Biology in Costa Rica. Iowa State University.
2012 Tropical Rainforests. The Evergreen State College.
2012 Tropical Biology: An Ecological Approach (OTS 12-1)*. Organization for Tropical Studies.
2011 Tropical Biology: An Ecological Approach (OTS 11-3)*. Organization for Tropical Studies.
2010 Tropical Biology: An Ecological Approach (OTS 10-1)*. Organization for Tropical Studies.
2009 Global Change and Tropical Ecosystems*. Organization for Tropical Studies and the Pan-American Advanced Studies Institute.
Field Courses (* indicates courses containing graduate students)
2013 Tropical Island Biodiversity and Conservation Studies. School for Field Studies.
2008 Neotropical Herpetology*. Organization for Tropical Studies.
Mentoring Experience -
Graduate Committees
2021 – Present Graduate Committee Member. Olivia Rothberg. Department of Biology. Florida Atlantic University
2019 – Present Graduate Committee Member. Adrian Figueroa. Department of Earth and Environment. Florida International University
2016 – Present Graduate Committee Member. Stephanie Clements. Department of Biology. University of Miami.
Undergraduate Mentoring
2021 – 2022 Mentor. Research Experience for Undergraduates Program. National Science Foundation and Zoo Miami.
2016 – 2021 Mentor. FIU Tropics Internship Program. Fernandez Pave the Way Foundation and Florida International University.
2015 – 2016 Mentor. Research Experience for Undergraduates Program. National Science Foundation and La Selva Biological Station.
2015 Mentor. Research Experience for Undergraduates Program. Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation and La Selva Biological Station.
2014 Mentor. Student Summer Research Program. Gonzaga University and Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
2007 – 2013 Mentor. Research Experience for Undergraduates Program. National Science Foundation and La Selva Biological Station.
2010 – 2011 Mentor. Research Experience for Teachers Program. National Science Foundation and La Selva Biological Station.
Research Presentations (*indicates undergraduate coauthor) Invited Presentations
2020 Whitfield, S.M. 2020. Survival and recovery of amphibian populations after Bd emergence can inform strategies for conservation translocations. World Congress of Herpetology. Dunedin, New Zealand.
2018 Whitfield, S.M. 2018. Past, present, and future of American Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) in Florida. Florida Keys Audubon Society
2018 Whitfield, S.M. 2018. Past, present, and future of American Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) in Florida. Florida Oceanic Society
2017 Whitfield, S.M. 2017. Past, present, and future of American Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) in Florida. Florida International University
2016 Whitfield, S.M. 2016. Enigmatic decline and enigmatic survival in Costa Rican amphibians. University of Miami.
2016 Whitfield, S.M. 2016. Enigmatic decline and enigmatic survival in Costa Rican amphibians. University of Central Florida.
2015 Whitfield, S.M. 2015. Enigmatic decline and enigmatic survival in Costa Rican amphibians. Rollins College.
2015 Whitfield, S.M. 2015. Enigmatic decline and enigmatic survival in Costa Rican amphibians. California Polytechnic University, Pomona.
2014 Whitfield, S.M. 2014. Enigmatic decline and enigmatic survival in Costa Rican amphibians. The Evergreen State College.
2013 Whitfield, S.M. 2013. Enigmatic decline and enigmatic survival in Costa Rican amphibians. Gonzaga University.
2013 Whitfield, S.M. 2013. Enigmatic decline and enigmatic survival in Costa Rican amphibians. California State University – Dominguez Hills.
2013 Whitfield, S.M. 2013. Diffuse global stressors and amphibian population declines at La Selva, Costa Rica. Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation.
2012 Whitfield, S.M. 2012. Cambios Globales y La Crisis de Biodiversidad de Anfibios: Declinaciones en Poblaciones de Anfibios en America Central. Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica.
2012 Whitfield, S.M. 2012. Pattern and Process in Amphibian and Reptile Declines at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. Universidad de Costa Rica.
2009 Whitfield, S.M. 2009. Declining amphibian populations in Central America and at La Selva, Costa Rica. University of South Dakota.
2009 Whitfield, S.M. 2009. Global change and the amphibian biodiversity crisis: Declining amphibian populations in Central America and at La Selva. Pan-American Advanced Studies Institute Workshop on Tropical Forests and Global Change.
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 (Selected)
2020 Whitfield, S.M., D. Valle*, A. Figueroa*, B. Chin*, H. Bravo-Gallegos*, F. Leone*. Burrow characteristics and habitat associations of gopher tortoises in Miami's urban pine rockland preserves. Annual Meeting of the Gopher Tortoise Council.
2019 Whitfield, S.M., D. Valle*, A. Figueroa*, B. Chin*. Habitat Associations of Gopher Tortoises in Miami's Urban Natural Areas. Joint Meeting of American Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.
2018 Whitfield, S.M., F.N. Ridgley, N. Atteberry, D. Valle*, A. Figueroa*, J. Iglesias*, B. Chin*. Ecology of Gopher Tortoises in Pine Rocklands Habitat in Miami, Florida. Annual Meeting of the Gopher Tortoise Council.
2018 Whitfield, S.M., F.N. Ridgley, N. Atteberry, D. Valle*, A. Figueroa*, J. Iglesias*, B. Chin*. Ecology of Gopher Tortoises in Pine Rocklands Habitat in Miami, Florida. Pine Rocklands Working Group Meeting
2018 Whitfield, S.M., F.N. Ridgley, N. Atteberry, D. Valle*, A. Figueroa*, J. Iglesias*, B. Chin*. Ecology of Gopher Tortoises in Pine Rocklands Habitat in Miami, Florida. Joint Meeting of American Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
2017 Whitfield, S.M., J.A. Abarca, G. Alvarado, J.L.Kerby. Ecology and conservation of relict amphibian populations in Costa Rica. Joint Meeting of American Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
2016 Whitfield, S.M., J.A. Abarca, G. Alvarado, J.L.Kerby. Enigmatic survival follows enigmatic amphibian decline - A turning point for amphibian conservation? Ecological Society of America.
2016 Whitfield, S.M., J.A. Abarca, G. Alvarado, J.L.Kerby. Enigmatic survival follows enigmatic amphibian decline - A turning point for amphibian conservation? Joint Meeting of American Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.
2015 Whitfield, S. M. Enigmatic survival follows enigmatic decline and extinction in Costa Rican amphibians. Society for Northwest Vertebrate Biology.
2012 Whitfield, S. M., B. Caraballo, M. Donnelly, and A. Catenezzi. Limited physiological tolerance to warming in lowland tropical frogs. Ecological Society of America.
2011 Whitfield, S.M., K. Reider, J. Kerby, L.R. Gentry*, S. Greenspan*, S. Ghose*, and M.A. Donnelly. Pattern and Process in Amphibian and Reptile Declines at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. Joint Meeting of American Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.
2010 Whitfield, S.M., J. Kerby, L.R. Gentry*, and M.A. Donnelly. Temporal variation in prevalence and intensity of chytridiomycosis in three species of frogs from La Selva, Costa Rica. Ecological Society of America.
2008 Whitfield, S.M. K.R. Lips, H. Heatwole, and M.A. Donnelly. 2008. Decline and conservation of amphibians in Central America. Joint Meeting of American Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.
2007 Whitfield, S.M. and M. A. Donnelly. 2007. 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. Ecological Society of America.
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.
Poster Presentations (Selected)
2018 Valle, D.*, S.M. Whitfield, F.N. Ridgley. Gopher Tortoise Burrow Use by Commensal Species in the Pine Rocklands (Miami-Dade County). Annual Meeting of the Gopher Tortoise Council.
2018 Figueroa,* A. Lange, J. S.M. Whitfield. Seed Composition of Gopherus polyphemus Scats in Zoo Miami Pine Rocklands FL. Annual Meeting of the Gopher Tortoise Council.
2018 Chin, B.*, J. Iglesias*, S.M. Whitfield. Gopher Tortoise Movement Patterns within Zoo Miami’s Pine Rockland Ecosystem. Annual Meeting of the Gopher Tortoise Council.
2018 Valle, D.*, S.M. Whitfield, F.N. Ridgley. Gopher Tortoise Burrow Use by Commensal Species in the Pine Rocklands (Miami-Dade County). Pine Rocklands Working Group Conference.
2018 Figueroa,* A. Lange, J. S.M. Whitfield. Seed Composition of Gopherus polyphemus Scats in Zoo Miami Pine Rocklands FL. Pine Rocklands Working Group Conference..
2018 Chin, B.*, J. Iglesias*, S.M. Whitfield. Gopher Tortoise Movement Patterns within Zoo Miami’s Pine Rockland Ecosystem. Pine Rocklands Working Group Conference..
2012 Geerdes, E. *, J. Kerby, M.A. Donnelly, and S.M. Whitfield. Ranavirus infection in wild frogs from La Selva Costa Rica: The first report of ranavirus in Central America. Ecological Society of America.
2012 S.M. Whitfield, E. Geerdes.*, J. Kerby, , and M.A. Donnelly. Ranavirus infection in wild frogs from La Selva Costa Rica: The first report of ranavirus in Central America. World Congress of Herpetology.
2011 Ghose, S*. and S.M. Whitfield. Toxic effects of current-use pesticides in Costa Rica on amphibians: Acute toxicity assays and meta-analysis identify gaps in tropical ecotoxicology. Ecological Society of America.
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.
Professional Service -
Workshop Organization
2019-2021 Workshop Co-coordinator. “Enhancing the Value of Zoo Collections to Advancing Biological Sciences.”
2012 Workshop Coordinator. “Toxicology, Tropical Forests, and Global Change.” La Selva Biological Station.
Editorial Service
2017 - 2021 Board of Editors. Biotropica
Manuscript Reviewing (28 distinct journal titles to date)
2021 Solicited Reviewer. Biotropica, Journal of Tropical Ecology, Herpetological Conservation and Biology
2020 Solicited Reviewer. Animals
2019 Solicited Reviewer. Environmental Science and Technology, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Studies of Neotropical Fauna and Environment.
2018 Solicited Reviewer. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, Journal of Field Ornithology, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation
2017 Solicited Reviewer. Ecology, Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, Molecular Ecology, Ecography
2016 Solicited Reviewer. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Biotropica
2015 Solicited Reviewer. PLoS ONE, Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Herpetological Review
2014 Solicited Reviewer. Tropical Conservation Science, EcoHealth, Ecology, Proceedings of the Royal Society B
2013 Solicited Reviewer. Ecology, Journal of Wildlife Management, PLoS ONE, EcoHealth
2012 Solicited Reviewer. Conservation Biology, Biology Letters, Amphibia-Reptilia
2011 Solicited Reviewer. African Journal of Ecology, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Journal of Herpetology, Herpetological Review
2010 Solicited Reviewer. African Journal of Herpetology
2009 Solicited Reviewer. Journal of Applied Ecology
2008 Solicited Reviewer. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, Canadian Journal of Zoology
2007 Solicited Reviewer. Journal of Herpetology, Herpetologica
2006 Solicited Reviewer. Conservation Biology
2005 Solicited Reviewer. Journal of Zoology, Herpetological Review
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Committee Participation
2018 – Present Participant, Flamingo Specialist Group. IUCN Species Survival Commission/Wetlands International Waterbird Network.
2015 - 2020 Board of Governors. American Society for Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
2015 - Present Interpretive Steering Committee. Zoo Miami.
2014 – 2015 Center for Teaching and Advising Faculty Advisory Committee. Gonzaga University.
2014 – 2015 Advisory Council on Stewardship and Sustainability. Gonzaga University.
2008 – 2013 Advisory Committee. Save the Frogs.
2011 – 2013 Steering Committee. NSF Research Coordinated Network “Tropical Forests in a Changing World.”
2008 – 2009 Graduate Student Participation Committee. American Society for Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.
Computer Skills -
Software, Applications, and Languages
Microsoft Office Suite, ArcGIS, QGIS, R, R Studio, PRIMER, MARK
Language Skills -
Native English, Fluent Spanish