Plant and animal tagging methods encompass a range of techniques used to individually mark organisms for identification, tracking, and data collection in ecological and behavioral research. Approaches include physical tags (e.g., ear tags, leg bands, collars, PIT/ RFID tags, satellite or GPS transmitters), chemical or molecular markers (e.g., stable isotopes, genetic tags), and minimally invasive plant markers (e.g., coded tags on stems or branches). Method selection is constrained by species biology, tag retention, effects on fitness and behavior, environmental conditions, and data-resolution requirements, and is typically accompanied by rigorous ethical, welfare, and permitting considerations in wildlife and conservation studies.
As a sensor sounded, scientist Akiko Takii hurried to a bear trap deep in the forests of Nagano, Japan, where rising nationwide attacks have sparked fear and the culling of thousands of the animals.
Ecology
45 minutes ago
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Every spring, many monarch butterflies drift back into Florida on orange-and-black wings that have captivated scientists for generations. They arrive quietly, fluttering through fields and roadsides, stopping at nectar plants ...
Ecology
Aug 27, 2026
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5
Sea turtles are famous for being prodigious wanderers. Guided by Earth's magnetic field, ocean currents and the sun, they tend to crisscross the seas in search of food, returning to the region of their birth every few years ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 27, 2026
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38
Methane is a short-lived but powerful greenhouse gas; cutting methane emissions can slow near-term warming and improve air quality by reducing harmful ground-level ozone. As ruminants digest feed, they release methane—through ...
Environment
Aug 24, 2026
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Birds have a lot to do in their short lives: defend territories, build nests, raise chicks and feed themselves. But the toll of these activities may be greater for female birds than for male birds. A new study by UCLA ornithologists ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 30, 2026
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Every year, billions of migratory birds connect the world's continents, oceans and ecosystems as they undertake epic journeys between their foraging habitats and breeding grounds.
Ecology
Jul 23, 2026
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On a pristine Rhode Island beach teeming with noisy seabirds, a group of biologists armed with nets sneak up on a pair of American oystercatcher chicks.
Ecology
Jul 20, 2026
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A recent study reveals geographic biases in how aquatic animals have been tracked and researched across the globe, with a preference toward politically stable, English-speaking countries with high conservation funding. Researchers ...
Ecology
Jul 9, 2026
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11
A smartwatch can tell us the level of oxygen in our blood, when our sleep is restless or the number of steps we take in a day. Now imagine that kind of tracking ability for plants. By the time farmers see curling leaves or ...
Biotechnology
Jul 9, 2026
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23
Sheep farmers could soon be able to estimate their flock's live weight and fleece weight in real time, without the need for labor-intensive handling. The new system, being developed by CSIRO, Australia's national science ...
Agriculture
Jul 6, 2026
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