Biography
Kenneth James Chapin
Dr. Kenny Chapin is an evolutionary biologist and science communicator with a lifelong passion to inspire others about the natural world. He holds degrees in environmental writing and biology, including a PhD in biology from UCLA. Dr. Chapin has authored dozens of scientific and educational publications in academic journals and books like Animal Behaviour, Behavioral Ecology and American Biology Teacher; presented at invited lectures and conferences around the globe; and served as a visiting scientist and lecturer at UCLA, UC Davis, and the University of Arizona.
His work has been featured in science news outlets like BBC, National Geographic, The Science Times, Earth Touch News, SciShow, Bad Science, and Science Moab.
Press & Media
The spider so terrifying that it has its own publicist
He has spent years studying these violent and terrifying-looking animals , and assures that they are truly “delicate and shy” beings.
Read @ BBC News
Great Whip Spider Boom: Are These Exotic Arachnids a Spider of Tailless Scorpions?
The current surge of behavioral and neurophysiological studies about whip spiders has opened a doorway into their strange sensory world.
Read @ Science Times
Watch Cannibal ‘Scorpions’ Fight
With long, spiky legs and formidable fangs, tailless whip scorpions look a lot scarier than they are… But the armored predators do engage in fierce territorial battles in which the loser can become dinner. “It’s like a food resource for them—a prize after the fight,” says Kenneth Chapin
Read @ National Geographic
Adaptation with Nadia Osman & Dr. Kenneth Chapin
The current surge of behavioral and neurophysiological studies about whip spiders has opened a doorway into their strange sensory world.
Listen @ The Good, the Bad, and the Science
Understanding How Animals Behave
There is shocking little known about why animals behave the ways they do. Here, we speak with Dr. Kenny Chapin who explains what we know about animal behavior and some of the ways researchers ask questions to understand why animals act the ways they do…
Listen @ Science Moab, KZMU
Cannibal Battle: Whip Scorpion Turf Wars can be Deadly
Tailless whip scorpions are fiercely territorial – and willing to fight for their turf. What’s more, those battles sometimes come with a side order of cannibalism. Scientists recently set out to learn more about the behaviour.
Read @ Earth Touch News
Meet the arachnid that may add a new chapter to the book on sensory biology
Whip spiders, also known as tailless whip scorpions, are actually neither spiders nor scorpions. These strange creatures belong to a separate arachnid order called Amblypygi, meaning “blunt rump,” a reference to their lack of tails.
Read @ The Scientist
6 Animals with extraordinary adaptations to cave life
Living in a cave isn’t easy, but these six cave-dwelling animals have gained some amazing traits to help them survive there!
Watch @ Scishow
27
PUBLICATIONS
462
DAYS IN THE FIELD
17
YEARS IN BIOLOGY
Publications
Invited Review: Further Mismeasures of Animal Contests
@ Behavioral Ecology
Research Article: Soil Moisture Mediates Productivity
@ Ecology
Invited Review: Behavioral Ecology of Amblypygids
@ Journal of Arachnology
Research Article: Cave-Epigean Behavioral Variation
@ Journal of Arachnology
Research Article: Rapid Alignment of Function Trait Variation
@ American Journal of Botany
Book Chapter: Arthropod Life History
@ Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition & BehaviorResearch Article: Cave-Epigean Behavioral Variation
@ Journal of Arachnology
Research Article: Population Ecology & Poaching
@ Herpetological Conservation & Biology
Commentary: Ternary Plots for Contest Strategies
@ Animal Behaviour
Letter to the Editor: The Threat of Sahara Mustard
@ Ecology & Evolution
Research Article: Guano Predicts Predators
@ Journal of Arachnology
Research Article: Evolutionary Paradox: Cheating to Learn
@ American Biology Teacher
Article: Microhabitiat & Spatial Complexity
@ Journal of Tropical Ecology
Research Article: Multiple Introductions and Rapid Expansion
@ Ecology & EvolutionResearch Article: Phenotypic Shifts of a Rare Endemic
@ Conservation PhysiologyResearch Article: Reproductive Strategy & Indeterminant Growth
@ Journal of Arachnology
Research Article: Vertically Stratified Arthropod Diversity
@ Florida Entomologist
Research Article: Visible Implant Elastomer
@ Journal of Arachnology
Research Article: Island Biogeography & Ecological Modeling
@ Ecology & Evolution
Research Article: Territoriality and Asymmetric Motivation
@ Behavioural Processes
Research Article: Territoriality mediates cannibalism
@ Ethology
