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Caroline Chaboo
Contact Information
Office Phone:
785.864.5173 Email:
cschaboo@ku.edu
Building:
Public Safety Building Caroline Chaboo, curator, 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. Students interested in developing a project within this research program or in an allied area are encouraged to contact Dr. Chaboo or view her EEB page.
Recent Blog Posts
April 26, 2013
Sofia Muñoz (MA student, mentor Chaboo), is one of 20 students in...
February 27, 2013
Timo Förster, an undergraduate from the University of Greiswald, Germany,...
January 30, 2013
In my academic calendar, January is usually preoccupied with completing annual...
November 20, 2012
Two M.Sc. students in the Chaboo lab presented posters on their research at the...
November 10, 2012
Members of the Chaboo lab made presentations at the 54th Peruvian Congress of...
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Recent Publications
I am a systematist with specialization in chrysomelid leaf beetles. Chrysomelidae (∼40000 species) forms one of the largest radiations of animals, and they present many interesting research problems. The significant gap in knowledge of chrysomelid evolutionary relationships motivates my effort to collect the total data of individual species, develop character hypotheses that can be tested in phylogeny reconstruction, and help build strong classifications. My approach is holistic, with extensive fieldwork to explore life histories, ecology, behavior, and laboratory study of morphology and molecules.
Current Research Topics:
- Biology of immature stages of Chrysomelidae.
- Origin and diversification of subsociality in Chrysomelidae.
- Construction of domiciles and defensive shields.
- Tri-trophic interactions between host plants, chrysomelid herbivores, and their carabid beetle parasitoids.
- Diversity and community structure of arthropods in amazonian Peru.
Submitted
.
Submitted. Phytotelmata Habitats: Insect Diversity in Two Host Plants, Heliconia stricta Huber (Heliconiaceae) and Calathea lutea Schult (Marantaceae), in Southeastern Peru. Journal of Natural History.
.
Submitted. Biology and morphology of Neochlamisus gibbosus (Fabricius, 1776) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae: Chlamisini). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society.
In Press
.
In Press. Safe and Successful Use of Permethrin for Extraction of Dermatobia hominis Larvae in a Patient with Cutaneous Myiasis. Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice..
2012
.
2012. New Distribution Records for Cassidinae Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Neotropical Entomology.
.
2012. Contribution on the orchid bee fauna (Hymenoptera: Apidae) of the south east Amazon, Peru. CheckList. 8(2):215-217.
.
2012. New records of Diamphidia Gerstaecker 1855 and Polyclada Chevrolat 1840 in the Republic of Mozambique (Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae s.l.).. The Coleopterists Bulletin. 66(1):70-71.
.
2012. A revision and phylogenetic analysis of Stoiba Spaeth 1909 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) . Zookeys. 224:1-36.
2011
.
2011. The beetle spawn of John Wilcox: Shawn Clark. Chrysomela newsletter. 53:14-16.
.
2011. Defensive behaviors in leaf beetles: from the unusual to the weird. Chemical Biology of the Tropics. :59-69.
.
2011. A specialized carabid larval predator of an adult toad in India (Coleoptera: Carabidae; Anura: Bufonidae: Duttaphrynus Frost). Herpetological Review. 42(1):83-84.
2010
.
2010. Life history and host records of the South African leaf miner, Oncocephala promontorii Péringuey 1898 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Oncocephalini). Coleopterists Bulletin. 64(1):21-29.
2009
.
2009. Disonycha alternata (Illiger, 1807) on Coronilla varia (Linnaeus) Lassen (Fabaceae; crown vetch) in Kansas, USA (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae). Coleopterists Bulletin. 63(2):232-234.
.
2009. Natural history and leaf shelter constructions of the Asian rice leptispa beetle, Leptispa pygmaea Baly (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Leptispini). Zoological Studies. 48(5):625-631.
.
2009. Ambulatory use of abdominal ampullae in larvae of labidomera clivicollis (Kirby) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Chrysomelinae). Coleopterists Bulletin. 63(3):357-363.
.
2009. Novel host records of some cassidine leaf beetles from Ecuador (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae). Insecta Mundi. 95:1-8.
Education
2005 Ph.D., Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca (Co-advisors: Q.D. Wheeler & D. Grimaldi)
1995 M.A., Entomology, University of Kansas, Lawrence (Advisor: J.S. Ashe)
1987 B.Sc., Zoology & Botany, University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago
Academic Appointments
Current Appointments
Curator
Entomology
Assistant Professor
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Previous Appointments
1995-1997 Scientific Assistant, Diptera and Insect fossil collections, American Museum of Natural History - Invertebrate Zoology
1992-1993 Curatorial Assistant, University of Kansas, Snow Entomology Museum
1989-1992 Collections Conservation Assistant, American Museum of Natural History - Invertebrate Zoology
1995-1997 Curatorial Assistant, Entomology & General Collections, University of the West Indies - Zoology
Professional Societies
Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation
Coleopterists Society
Entomological Society of America
Hennig Society
Kansas Entomomological Society
New York Entomological Society
Sigma Xi
Society of Systematic Biologists
Grants
2011 NSF-ABDC TCN: Collaborative Research: Plants, Herbivores, and Parasitoids: A Model System for the study of Tri-Trophic Associations; Schuh, R.T. et al. $1.2 million; Chaboo subcontract: $78000).
2011 NSF-DBI: A specimen-level database of the world’s bees (Apoidea) at the University of Kansas. Engel, M.S., C.S. Chaboo, Z.H. Falin, and A.E.Z. Short. $495,426.
2010-2011 NSF Kansas-EPSCoR First awards, Phylogenetic Research in the hyperdiverse leaf beetle family, Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera); $142,000.
Awards
2011 150 most influential Kansas scientists, Ad Astra Kansas
2008 Jean Theodore Lacordaire Prize, Best publication from Ph.D. research, Coleopterists Society
2005 Snodgrass Memorial Prize, Ph.D. research in Morphology, Entomological Society of America
2002 Paper of the Year, Coleopterists Society
2001 2nd Place, Student presentations in Morphology, Systematics and Evolution, Entomological Society of America
1987 1st Place, Zoology Field Course, University of the West Indies, Trinidad
Publications
Submitted
.
Submitted. Phytotelmata Habitats: Insect Diversity in Two Host Plants, Heliconia stricta Huber (Heliconiaceae) and Calathea lutea Schult (Marantaceae), in Southeastern Peru. Journal of Natural History.
.
Submitted. Biology and morphology of Neochlamisus gibbosus (Fabricius, 1776) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae: Chlamisini). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society.
In Press
.
In Press. Safe and Successful Use of Permethrin for Extraction of Dermatobia hominis Larvae in a Patient with Cutaneous Myiasis. Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice..
2012
.
2012. New Distribution Records for Cassidinae Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Neotropical Entomology.
.
2012. Contribution on the orchid bee fauna (Hymenoptera: Apidae) of the south east Amazon, Peru. CheckList. 8(2):215-217.
.
2012. New records of Diamphidia Gerstaecker 1855 and Polyclada Chevrolat 1840 in the Republic of Mozambique (Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae s.l.).. The Coleopterists Bulletin. 66(1):70-71.
.
2012. A revision and phylogenetic analysis of Stoiba Spaeth 1909 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) . Zookeys. 224:1-36.
2011
.
2011. The beetle spawn of John Wilcox: Shawn Clark. Chrysomela newsletter. 53:14-16.
.
2011. Defensive behaviors in leaf beetles: from the unusual to the weird. Chemical Biology of the Tropics. :59-69.
.
2011. A specialized carabid larval predator of an adult toad in India (Coleoptera: Carabidae; Anura: Bufonidae: Duttaphrynus Frost). Herpetological Review. 42(1):83-84.
2010
.
2010. Life history and host records of the South African leaf miner, Oncocephala promontorii Péringuey 1898 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Oncocephalini). Coleopterists Bulletin. 64(1):21-29.
2009
.
2009. Natural history and leaf shelter constructions of the Asian rice leptispa beetle, Leptispa pygmaea Baly (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Leptispini). Zoological Studies. 48(5):625-631.
.
2009. Disonycha alternata (Illiger, 1807) on Coronilla varia (Linnaeus) Lassen (Fabaceae; crown vetch) in Kansas, USA (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae). Coleopterists Bulletin. 63(2):232-234.
.
2009. Ambulatory use of abdominal ampullae in larvae of labidomera clivicollis (Kirby) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Chrysomelinae). Coleopterists Bulletin. 63(3):357-363.
.
2009. Novel host records of some cassidine leaf beetles from Ecuador (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae). Insecta Mundi. 95:1-8.
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Collaborators:
Postdoctoral Fellows:
Dr. Daniel Bennett (2011-2012)
currently Assistant Professor, Dept. of Biology, Stephen Austin State University, Texas
Lab Managers:
Dr. Mathew Gimmel (2011-2012)
currently Post-doctoral Fellow, Dept. of Biology, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic (Lab of Dr. Milada Bocakova)
Visiting Scholars:
Dr. Jennifer Zaspel (2013)
Dr. Patricia Alvarez (2011)
Dr. Fred Vencl, Stony Brook University (2011)
Dr. Muhammed Haseeb (2011)
Dr. Michael Schmitt (2011)
Dr. Shawn Clark (2010)
Mr. Luis Figueroa (2012)
Dr. Mary Liz Jameson (2012)
Ms. Sara Lopez (2012)
Dr. R. Wills Flowers (2010, 2011)
Graduate Students:
Mr. Chul woo Shin (2009-2012), presently in Dr. Kirsten Jensen's lab, Haworth Hall, University of Kansas
Mrs. Mabel Alvarado (2011-present)
Mrs. Sofia Muñoz (2012-present)
Ms. Marianna Simoes (2012-present)
Graduate research assistants:
Shan-hui Su (2011)
Yong-chao Su (2011)
Chul woo Shin (2010-2011)
Michael Andersen (2011)
Undergraduate Students:
Fernando Andrade (2013-present)
Nield A. Buitrago (2013-present; volunteer)
Michael French (2010)
Josh Cunningham, Haskell Indian Nations University (2012)
Haley Fetters Crouch (2012-present)
Timo Foerster, University of Greiswald, Germany (2012-present)
Gray Gustafson (2009-2010), presently in Ph.D. program, University of New Mexico, NM
Lydia Adubea Gyamfi (2013-present)
Joe J. Jalinsky (2010-present), presently in M.Sc. program, Kansas State University, KS
William Kilbel (2010 - volunteer)
Sameera Mangena (2010 - volunteer)
Reed S. Niemack (2010)
Shayna Poole (2010-present)
Tom A. Radocy (2011), presently in Ph.D. program, Rutgers University, NJ
Jesica Rhodes (2009-2010)
Aimee Roberts (2010-present)
Anssi Santanen (2011 - volunteer)
Racheal Sites (2013-present)
Riley Wertenberger (2011)
Kaitlyn West (2010 - 2012)
Emily Wilcox (2010)
Helen Jin (2010), currently in Americorps, Boston, MA
April 26, 2013
Sofia Muñoz (MA student, mentor Chaboo), is one of 20 students in the U.S. selected to participate (fully funded) in a NSF-funded Thematic Collections Network Short Course on Biological Specimen Informatics, at the Richard Gilder Graduate School, American Museum of Natural History, New York, in May 2013.
Sofia, Marianna Simões, and Mabel Alvarado presented their research at last weekend's annual meeting of the Kansas Entomological Society, Pittsburg, KS. Caroline and Matt Gimmel also presented a poster, "Beetle families of Peru."
Mabel (co-mentored by Michael Engel) and Victor Baruch Arroyo-Peña (mentor Jorge Soberón ) won third place for their poster, "Problems in the usage of historical data: experiences based on modeling data of the genus Alophophion Cushman, 1947 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Ophioninae)."
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February 27, 2013
Timo Förster, an undergraduate from the University of Greiswald, Germany, is conducting a research internship with...
January 30, 2013
In my academic calendar, January is usually preoccupied with completing annual evaluations and submitting reports, and...
November 20, 2012
Two M.Sc. students in the Chaboo lab presented posters on their research at the annual meeting of the the Entomological...
November 10, 2012
Members of the Chaboo lab made presentations at the 54th Peruvian Congress of Entomology, organized by the Peruvian...
October 9, 2012
When a chief of police contacts you about insects and dead bodies, a good entomologist hopes that her skills are badly...
September 28, 2012
Please congratulate Dr. Matthew Gimmel on his acceptance of a 2.5 year European Social Fund postdoctoral fellowship to...
September 28, 2012
The Chaboo lab hosted Sara López from the Ciudad Universitaria (UNAM) and the Departament of Zoology, National...
June 22, 2012
Our Perú 2011 expedition and field course was very rewarding, with the research and creative products, and the...
June 15, 2012
Children preparing for a hot field day: sunscreen and repellent
Caroline Chaboo, Riley Wertenberger (KU...
May 10, 2012
After a fast paced semester, Stop Day is an exclamation point between formal classes and exams. In spring, exam week is...
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From the Biodiversity Insitute blog
July 7, 2009
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April 9, 2009
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April 5, 2009
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April 2, 2009
The word of the month for March was exhausting! I spent 26 days traveling through several islands in the central Philippines. I have created a little digital map to summarize the trip. We went from...
April 1, 2009
There we were, just outside of Dumaguete City. We had been trying to access a small watershed at the foot of Mt. Talinis in southeast Negros Island. While we couldn’t access the area during...
March 31, 2009
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It sounds more interesting than it actually is. PAMB stands for Protected Area Management Board. To access any protected national parks...
March 30, 2009
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Biodiversity Institute News
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May 7, 2013
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Links
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