Costa Rica: Past KU Programs in Costa Rica

Learn more about her research here: http://biodiversity.ku.edu/entomology/people/caroline-chaboo . Caroline Chaboo focuses on the biology, behavior and systematics of chrysomelid leaf beetles. After developing a hypothesis of broad evolutionary relationships, she is looking more closely at small groups, collecting and incorporating data from beetle life history, host plant choices, and insect defenses. Her research program goals are to refine evolutionary relationships, improve current classification schemes, and examine the evolution of various features, e.g., host plant choice, maternal care, gregariousness, construction behavior and morphology.

The program was led by Dr. Caroline S. Chaboo, formerly a curator in entomology in the KU Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum. Dr. Chaboo was an assistant professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and has been conducting field research in insect diversity and biology.

Students of wide interests and backgrounds were invited to participate; a prime motivation for bringing a diversity of participant interests into such science expedition was to cross boundaries between disciplines in the arts, sciences and humanities (see Kafka 2011).

Insects are the largest group of animals known on earth and they are extremely important as pollinators, recyclers, and in food chains. One can study any biological question using insects. This program explored the diversity of insects e.g., How many species are there? Is the species rare, abundant, threatened or extinct? As well as the problems involved in identifying them: how do we recognize new species? Insect science is a rare field where even non-professionals can make significant contributions to science.

"Monteverde is a region in the mountains of the northwestern Costa Rica that harbors more biodiversity than almost any other place on the planet. . . . This presentation also examines both the value and the fragility of the region’s ecosystems, making a moving call for ongoing conservation work in Monteverde...and worldwide" - DVD. --60 min.