Department of Zoology and

Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History

University of Oklahoma

2401 Chautauqua Ave.

Norman, OK 73072, USA

• Date and Place of Birth: 10 May 1975, Mattoon, IL, USA
• Home Address: 810 Hardin Dr, Norman, OK 73072, USA
• Telephone: Office 405-325-7771; Mobile: 405-255-5617
• Webpage: http://students.ou.edu/S/Donald.B.Shepard-1/
• Email: dshepard@ou.edu

Education

Dissertation Title: Phylogeography of the Ouachita Mountain Endemic Salamanders of the Plethodon ouachitae complex

Major Professor: Dr. Janalee P. Caldwell

Thesis Title: Aggressive Behavior and Potential of Territoriality in the Green Frog Rana clamitans

Major Professor: Dr. Lauren E. Brown

• Graduate Research Assistant, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK. Supervisors: Drs. Jan Caldwell and Laurie Vitt - August 2004 to present.
  • As part of an NSF funded project "Survey and Inventory of the Brazilian Cerrado Herpetofauna", I assist with field surveys and making collections of amphibians and reptiles throughout the Cerrado region of Brazil. Additionally, I conduct and assist with research on the behavior and ecology of Cerrado amphibians and reptiles.
• Graduate Research Assistant, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK. Supervisors: Drs. Jan Caldwell and Laurie Vitt - June to August 2006 and May to August 2007.
  • Conduct field surveys and make collections of amphibians and reptiles on State Wildlife Management Areas in Oklahoma.
• Graduate Research Assistant, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK. Supervisors: Drs. Jan Caldwell and Laurie Vitt - May to August 2005.
  • Conduct field surveys and make collections of amphibians and reptiles on BLM lands in the region around Billings, Montana.
• Graduate Research Assistant, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK. Supervisors: Drs. Jan Caldwell and Laurie Vitt - October to December 2003.
  • Assist with survey and inventory of the amphibians and reptiles in the Vale do Parana, Goias, Brazil.
• Graduate Research Assistant, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK. Supervisors: Drs. Jan Caldwell and Laurie Vitt - May to August 2003.
  • Conduct field surveys for amphibians and reptiles on Camp Gruber, U.S. Army Training Grounds, Muskogee County, Oklahoma.
• Field Ecologist, Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Drive, Champaign, IL 61820. Supervisor: Dr. Chris Phillips - August 2000 to July 2002.
  • Conduct field surveys for the state-endangered eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) at Carlyle Lake, IL, including tracking snakes using radio-telemetry and collecting life history and ecological data on snakes in the field. Respond to requests to relocate massasaugas from developed areas, present educational programs concerning the massasauga, data management, data analysis, and writing-up of results for reports to funding agencies and for publication.
• Field Assistant, Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Drive, Champaign, IL 61820. Supervisor: Drs. Scott Robinson and Jim Herkert - May to August 1997.
  • Searching for and monitoring of nests of grassland bird species at the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (former Joliet Arsenal), Will Co., IL. Census birds by song using point counts.
• Undergraduate Research, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL. Supervisor: Dr. Lowell Getz - January to May 1997.
  • Trapping of small mammals in tallgrass prairie, bluegrass, and alfalfa fields in central Illinois as part of a 25-year population and behavior study of the prairie vole (Microtus orchrogaster) and meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus).

Teaching Experience

• Herpetology, Teaching Assistant, Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma - Spring 2005.
• Human Anatomy, Teaching Assistant, Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma - Spring 2003.
• Introduction to Zoology Lab, Teaching Assistant, Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma - Fall 2002.
• Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, Teaching Assistant, Department of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University - Spring 2000.
• Human Biology, Instructor, Department of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University - Summer 1999 & last ¼ of Fall 1999.
• Biology of the Lower Vertebrates, Teaching Assistant, Department of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University - Fall 1998 & 1999.
• Fundamental Concepts of Biology, Teaching Assistant, Department of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University - Spring & Fall 1998 & 1999.

• Graduate Student, Division of Herpetology, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma - August 2002 to present
• Graduate Curatorial Assistant, Division of Herpetology, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma - August 2003 to July 2004.
• Graduate Student in Herpetology, Illinois State University Museum, Illinois State University - January 1998 to May 2000.

• American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
• Herpetologists' League
• Partners in Amphibians and Reptile Conservation
• Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
• Society for the Study of Evolution
• Society of Systematic Biologists

• Assistant Editor, Herpetological Conservation and Biology - 2006 to present
• Assistant to the Corresponding Editor, Alytes-International Journal of Batrachology - 2004 to present
• Journal Referee for: Copeia, Herpetologica, Journal of Herpetology, Oecologia, Alytes-International Journal of Batrachology, Western North American Naturalist, Acta Ethologica, University of Chittagong Journal of Zoology, Herpetological Review
• Member of IUCN/SSC Amphibian Specialist Group 2005-2008
• Local Committee for the 2004 Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Norman, OK
• Contributing scientist for IUCN Red List Assessment of Houston Toad (Bufo houstonensis) for Global Amphibian Assessment Project - 2003
• Reviewer, Robert Weigel and E.L. Mockford Research and Fellowship Grants, Department of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University - 1999

• Shepard, D.B., A.R. Kuhns, M.J. Dreslik, and C.A. Phillips. 2008. Roads as barriers to animal movement in fragmented landscapes. Animal Conservation 11:xxx-xxx. (pdf)
• Shepard, D.B., M.J. Dreslik, B.C. Jellen, and C.A. Phillips. 2008. Reptile road mortality around an oasis in the Illinois corn desert with emphasis on the endangered eastern massasauga. Copeia 2008:350-359. (pdf)
• Vitt, L.J., D.B. Shepard, G.H.C. Vieira, J.P. Caldwell, G.R. Colli, and D.O. Mesquita. 2008. Ecology of Anolis nitens brasiliensis in cerrado woodlands of Cantão. Copeia 2008:142-151. (pdf)
• Costa, G.C., C.A. Wolfe, D.B. Shepard, J.P. Caldwell, and L.J. Vitt. 2008. Detecting the influence of climatic variables on species' distributions: a test using GIS niche-based models along a steep longitudinal environmental gradient. Journal of Biogeography 35:637-646 (pdf)
• Shepard, D.B. 2007. Habitat but not body shape affects predator attack frequency on lizard models in the Brazilian Cerrado. Herpetologica 63:193-202. (pdf)
• Vitt, L.J., D.B. Shepard, J.P. Caldwell, G.H.C. Vieira, F.G.R. França, and G.R. Colli. 2007. Living with your food: geckos (Gymnodactylus carvalhoi) in termitaria of Cantão. Journal of Zoology 272:321-328. (pdf)
• Jellen, B.C., D.B. Shepard, M.J. Dreslik, and C.A. Phillips. 2007. Male movement and body size affect mate acquisition in the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus). Journal of Herpetology 41:451-457. (pdf)
• Caldwell, J. P., and D. B. Shepard. 2007. Calling site fidelity and call structure of a Neotropical toad, Rhinella ocellata (Anura: Bufonidae). Journal of Herpetology 41:611-621. (pdf)
• Shepard, D.B. and J.P. Caldwell. 2005. From foam to free-living: ecology of larval Leptodactylus labyrinthicus. Copeia 2005:803-811. (pdf)
• Leary, C.J., D. Fox, D.B. Shepard, and A.M. Garcia. 2005. Body size, age, growth and alternative mating tactics in toads: satellite males are smaller but not younger than calling males. Animal Behaviour 70:663-671. (pdf)
• Shepard, D.B. and L.E. Brown. 2005. Bufo houstonensis Houston toad. Pp. 415-417. In Amphibian Declines: The Conservation Status of United States Species. M. Lannoo (ed.). University of California Press, Berkeley.
• Shepard, D.B., L.E. Brown, and B.P. Butterfield. 2005. Pseudacris streckeri Strecker's Chorus Frog. Pp. 484-485. In Amphibian Declines: The Conservation Status of United States Species. M. Lannoo (ed.). University of California Press, Berkeley.
• Vitt, L.J., J.P. Caldwell, G.R. Colli, A.A. Garda, D.O. Mesquita, F.G.R. França, D.B. Shepard, G.C. Costa, M.M. Vasconcellos, and V. De Novaes e Silva. 2005. Uma atialização do guia fotográfico dos répteis e anfíbios da região do Jalapão no Cerrado Brasileiro. Special Publications in Herpetology, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History 2:1-24.
• Shepard, D.B., C.A. Phillips, M.J. Dreslik, and B.C. Jellen. 2004. Prey preference and diet of neonate eastern massasaugas (Sistrurus c. catenatus). American Midland Naturalist 152:360-368. (pdf)
• Shepard, D.B. 2004. Seasonal differences in aggression and site tenacity in male green frogs, Rana clamitans. Copeia 2004:159-164. (pdf)
• Shepard, D.B. 2002. Spatial relationships of male green frogs (Rana clamitans) throughout the activity season. American Midland Naturalist 148:394-400. (pdf)

Notes

• Petzing, J.E., J.M. Mui, M.J. Dreslik, A.R. Kuhns, D.B. Shepard, C.A. Phillips, J.K. Tucker, J.K. Warner, D. Mauger, T.G. Anton, E.J. Gittinger, T.R. Hunkapiller, B.C. Jellen, and R.J. Cosgriff. 2007. Filling in the gaps II: New Illinois amphibian and reptile county records from 2000-2005. Herpetological Review 38:240-243.
• Jellen, B.C., C.A. Phillips, M.J. Dreslik, and D.B. Shepard. 2007. Sistrurus catenatus. Reproduction. Herpetological Review 38:343-344.
• Shepard, D.B. 2005. Eumeces fasciatus. Predation. Herpetological Review 36:177.
• Richter, S.C. and D.B. Shepard. 2004. Rana areolata. Geographic distribution. Herpetological Review 35:283.
• Shepard, D.B., M.J. Dreslik, C.A. Phillips, and B.C. Jellen. 2003. Sistrurus catenatus catenatus: Male-Male Aggression. Herpetological Review. 34:155-156.
• Petzing, J.E., J.M. Mui, M.J. Dreslik, C.A. Phillips, D.B. Shepard, J.A. Crawford, A.R. Kuhns, M.J. Mayer, T.G. Anton, E.O. Moll, J.G. Palis, and D. Mauger. 2002. Filling in the gaps I: New county records for amphibians and reptiles in Illinois. Herpetological Review 33:327-330.
• Shepard, D.B. and A.R. Kuhns. 2000. Pseudacris triseriata. Calling sites after drought. Herpetological Review 31:235-236.
• Petzing, J.E., M.J. Dreslik, C.A. Phillips, C.D. Smith, A.R. Kuhns, D.B. Shepard, J.G. Palis, E.O. Moll, D.J. Olson, T.G. Anton, D. Mauger and B.A. Kingsbury. 2000. New amphibian and reptile county records in Illinois. Herpetological Review 31:189-194.
• Shepard, D.B. and H.M. Burdett. 2000. Pseudacris clarkii. Geographic distribution. Herpetological Review 31:50.

• Aldridge, R.D., B.C. Jellen, M. Allender, M.J. Dreslik, D.B. Shepard, J.M. Cox, and C.A. Phillips. Reproductive biology of the massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) from south-central Illinois. The Biology of the Rattlesnakes. W.K. Hayes, K.R. Beaman, S.P. Bush, and M.D. Cardwell, eds. Loma Linda University Press, Loma Linda, California.
• Brown, L.E., A. Dubois, and D.B. Shepard. Inefficiency and bias of internet search engines in retrieving names of fossil amphibians. Bulletin of Science, Technology, and Society

• Shepard, D.B., and F.T. Burbrink. Lineage diversification and historical demography of a sky island salamander, Plethodon ouachitae, from the Interior Highlands. Submitted to: Molecular Ecology
• Crawford, J.A., D.B. Shepard, and C.A. Conner. Diet composition and overlap between recently metamorphosed Lithobates areolatus and Lithobates sphenocephalus: Implications for a frog of conservation concern. Submitted to: Journal of Herpetology

• 2008. Lineage diversification in sky island salamanders. Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma.
• 2001. Ecology of the eastern massasauga rattlesnake at Carlyle Lake, Illinois: A case study. Herpetology Group, Washington University, St. Louis, MO. Co-presented with C.A. Phillips, M.J. Dreslik, and B.C. Jellen.

• 2007. A new perspective on the morphological and genetic variation among Plethodon ouachitae from different mountains in the Ouachita Range. Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists' League. St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
• 2006. Habitat but not body shape affects predator attack frequency on lizards in the Brazilian Cerrado. Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists' League. New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
• 2005. Reptile road mortality around an oasis in the Illinois corn desert, with emphasis on the endangered eastern massasauga (Sistrurus c. catenatus). 19th Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology. Universidade de Brasilia, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
• 2005. Reptile road mortality around an oasis in the Illinois corn desert, with emphasis on the endangered Eastern Massasauga. Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists' League. University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
• 2003. Foraging ecology of neonate eastern massasaugas (Sistrurus c. catenatus). 50th Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Association of Naturalists, Norman, OK.
• 2002. Ecology of neonate eastern massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus c. catenatus). Joint Annual Meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and the Herpetologists' League, Kansas City, MO.
• 2001. Population ecology of the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, Sistrurus catenatus catenatus. Joint Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles and the Herpetologists' League, Indianapolis, IN.
• 2001. Population ecology of the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, Sistrurus catenatus catenatus. 93rd Annual Meeting of the Illinois State Academy of Sciences, Macomb, IL.
• 2000. Absence of territoriality in the green frog Rana clamitans. Joint Meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, American Elasmobranch Society, Neotropical Ichthyological Association, Herpetologists' League, Canadian Association of Herpetologists, and Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico.
• 2000. Aggressive behavior and the potential of territoriality in the green frog Rana clamitans. 1st Annual Phi-Sigma Biological Sciences Research Symposium, Illinois State University, Normal, IL.

• 2007 Graduate Student Senate Research and Activity Grant, University of Oklahoma. $218.40
• 2006-2008 State of Arkansas, Game and Fish Commission SWG grant. "Reassessment of species boundaries in the endemic Arkansas salamanders of the Plethodon ouachitae complex using molecular phylogeographic techniques." $95,181 (with F. Burbrink and K. Irwin)
• 2006 Graduate Student Senate Research and Activity Grant, University of Oklahoma. $250
• 2006 Graduate Student Senate Conference and Creative Exhibition Grant, University of Oklahoma. $250
• 2005 Graduate Student Senate Research and Activity Grant, University of Oklahoma. $209.25
• 2005 Graduate Student Senate Conference and Creative Exhibition Grant, University of Oklahoma. $232.50
• 2004 Graduate Student Senate Research and Activity Grant, University of Oklahoma. $182.50
• 2004 Graduate Student Senate Conference and Creative Exhibition Grant, University of Oklahoma. $124
• 2003 Graduate Student Senate Research Grant, University of Oklahoma. $83
• 2002 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Candidate Species Fund. "Ecology and Conservation of the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus c. catenatus) at Carlyle Lake, Illinois." $43,000 (with C. Phillips and M. Dreslik)
• 2000 Graduate Student Association Research Award, Illinois State University. $125
• 1999 Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund Small Project Grant, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. "Herpetofaunal Survey along the Illinois River in Woodford and Marshall Counties." $742.90

• 2007 Adams Scholarship, Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma
• 2004 George Miksch Sutton Scholarship in Ornithology, University of Oklahoma.
• 2000 Graduate Student Association Professional Advancement Award, Illinois State University
• 2000 Omar Rilett Scholarship Award, Department of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University
• 2000 Outstanding Oral Presentation Award, 1st Annual Phi-Sigma Biological Sciences Research Symposium, Illinois State University
• 2000 Nominated for Outstanding University Graduate Student Teaching Award, Illinois State University.
• 1999 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, Department of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University
• 1997 Dean's List, University of Illinois
• 1996 Dean's List, University of Illinois

• Broad knowledge of flora and fauna of the mid-western United States.
• Adept at field identification of eastern and central North American species of reptiles and amphibians including identification of frogs and toads by mating call.
• Experience working and living in remote areas.
• Skilled in field methods of surveying/capturing amphibians and reptiles.
• Extensive experience with radio-telemetry.
• Proficient with various computer programs including Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, FileMaker Pro, SigmaPlot, SPSS, and SAS.
• Basic web page design using Macromedia Dreamweaver.
• Proficient in basic molecular techiniques including DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, and DNA sequencing.

last updated 4 June 2008