AnalynCabrasisabiologist.Shestudieslivingthings.She’salsoataxonomist.Sheputslivingthingsintocategories.Cabrasisaconservationistwhoworkstoprotectlivingthings.Andshe’sacoleopterist.Thatmeans,shestudies beetles.
Studyingbeetlesisabigfield.Earthishometomorethan400,000speciesofbeetles.TheycanbefoundoneverycontinentbutAntarctica.Theycanlivewhereit’shotorcold.Theycanlivewhereit’swetordry.Somecanbarelybeseen.Othersarealmosttoobigtoholdinone hand.
CabrasdoesherresearchinmountainousregionsonthePhilippineisland Mindanao.
ThisbeetleisaboutthesizeofCabras' thumbnail.
CabraslooksforbeetlesonMindanao.ItisanislandinthePhilippines.Intherainforests,shesneaksuponsmallshinybeetlesfromtheweevil family.
“Youhavetobevery,verycareful,”Cabrassays.“Iftheysenseyoucoming,theyfalltotheground.”Then,they’redifficultto find.
Philippines
ASIA
Cabrasusesamagnifyingglasstogetacloserlookata beetle.
IslandSurprises
Theislandkeepsherbusy.Littleisknownaboutwhatlivesthere.“HereinMindanao,wehavesomanymountainswhicharestillunexplored,”shesays.Cabrasseesherjobasrecordingwhatisthere.Shelooksathowthebeetlesrelatetoeachotherandthe world.
Sofar,herworkhasbeenfullofsurprises.“Itfeelslikeeverytimewegointothefield,wediscoveratleastonenewspecies,”shesays.Cabrasandherteamfoundfournewspeciesinonesmall stretch.
Itsoundssimple,butyouhavetoknowwhattolookfor.Andyouhavetobepatient.Atfirst,Cabrasdidn’tfindmuch.But,themoreshewentintothefield,themoreshe found.
KnowYourScientist
Inherworkstudyingbeetles, AnalynCabrasplaysmany roles:
Biologist:
anexpertonliving organisms
Coleopterist:
apersonwhostudiesorcollects beetles
Conservationist:
apersonwhoactsfortheprotectionoftheenvironmentand wildlife
Ecologist:
anexpertintherelationsoforganismstooneanotherandtotheirnatural surroundings
Taxonomist:
abiologistthatnamesandgroupsorganismsinto categories