AnalynCabrasisawomanwithalotof“ists”behindhername.She’sabiologist.She’sataxonomist.She’saconservationist.Andshe’sa coleopterist.
Wordsendingin“ist” denoteapersonwhopractices,isanexpertin,orwhostudiesaparticularsubject.InCabras’case,itmeansshestudieslivingthings,categorizesthem,andworkstoprotectthem.Andthelivingthingsshefocusesonthemostare beetles.
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CabrasconductsherresearchinmountainousregionsonthePhilippineisland Mindanao.
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ThisbeetleisaboutthesizeofCabras' thumbnail.
Studyingbeetlesisaprettybigfield.Earthishometomorethan400,000speciesofbeetles.Theyarethelargestgroupofanimalsontheplanet.BeetlescanbefoundoneverycontinentbutAntarctica.Theycanlivewhereit’shot,whereit’scold,whereit’sdry,orwhereit’swet.Theyrangeinsizefromthebarelyvisible(feather-wingedbeetles)tothealmost-too-big-to-hold-in-one-hand(titan beetles).
You’llfindCabraslookingforbeetlesonMindanao,thesecond-largestislandinthePhilippines.Highupintherainforests,shespendsherdayssneakingupontiny,iridescentbeetlesfromtheweevil family.
“Youhavetobevery,verycarefulinapproachingthem,”Cabrassays.Manybeetlesaresensitivetovibrations.Jewelweevilsarenoexception.“Iftheysenseyoucoming,theyfalltotheground.Oncetheyfalltotheground,it’salmostimpossibletofind them.”
Bellyupwithlegstuckedin,thebeetlesaretoughtoseeamongtheleaflitterontheground.ThisisjustoneofthelessonsCabrashaslearnedfrommanyseasonsof fieldwork.
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Philippines
ASIA
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Cabrasusesamagnifyingglassinthefieldtogetacloserlookata beetle.
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IslandSurprises
Thisislandkeepsherbusybecausesolittleisknownaboutwhatlivesthere.“Alotofexplorationinthelate19thcenturyfocusedonLuzon,whichisthelargestislandofthePhilippines.HereinMindanao,wehavesomanymountainswhicharestillunexplored,”Cabrassays.Sheseesherjobascatalogingwhat’sthereandlookingathowthesebeetlesrelatetoeachotherandthenatural world.
Sofar,herworkhasbeenfullofsurprises.Manyscientistsspendtheirentirecareerssearchingforsomethingnew.Yet,Cabrascan’tseemtostopfindingthingsthatarenew.“Itfeelslikeeverytimewegointothefield,wediscoveratleastonenewspecies.It’skindofmind-blowing.InoneareaofeasternMindanao,wefoundfournewspeciesina1.5-kilometer(less-than-a-mile) stretch.”
Itsoundssimple,butyouhavetoknowwhattolookfor.“Whenyoudothiskindofwork,youhavetobereally,reallypatient.”Cabrassays.“Whenyoufirststartfieldresearch,youwillnotfind [anything].Butasyougomoreoftenintothefield,youwillfindsomuch,youwon’tknowwheretobegin!You’llfindyourselfsurroundedby beetles.”
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KnowYourScientist
Inherworkstudyingbeetles, AnalynCabrasplaysmany roles:
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Biologist:
an expertinthebranchofscienceconcerningliving organisms
Coleopterist:
a personwhostudiesorcollects beetles
Conservationist:
a personwhoadvocatesoractsfortheprotectionandpreservationoftheenvironmentand wildlife
Ecologist:
an expertinorstudentofthebranchofbiologythatdealswiththerelationsoforganismstooneanotherandtotheirphysical surroundings
Taxonomist:
a biologistthatnamesandgroupsorganismsinto categories