Chapter 19 Endangered Species 475 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Wildlife Data Collection An accurate accounting of a species living in the wild must be taken to determine if a population is at risk. Methods used to identify, track, and count the individuals include DNA barcoding, remote sensing, and quadrat analysis. DNA Barcoding DNA barcoding is a research tool used to identify known species by com- paring their barcode DNA sequences to reference sequences in public data bases. The DNA barcodes are created by extracting DNA from a small tissue sample and mapping a short DNA sequence from a specifi c part of the genome. DNA barcoding helps researchers determine if a species is potentially new to science and to study ecological and evolutionary changes. The mission of the International Barcode of Life (iBOL) project, based in Ontario, Canada, is to globally unite DNA barcoding research and to help monitor biodiversity worldwide. Researchers in the iBOL project are also work- ing on applying DNA barcoding to real world problems, such as conservation, disease control, ecosystem monitoring, and forensics. To date, the iBOL bar- code library contains over 5.3 million DNA barcodes for 580,000 species. Remote Sensing Remote sensing is a method of collecting information about organisms or environments from a distance using air- craft, satellites, or UAVs/drones (unmanned aerial vehicles), Figure 19-11. Remote sensing is used by many agencies and in most science disciplines to gather information that might otherwise be diffi cult or dangerous to obtain, including the following: • Monitor or count animal populations in remote areas • Track migration patterns over long distances • Map forest fi res from an aerial view • Track changes in forests and grasslands • Track the spread of urbanization • Identify temperature changes in the ocean • Monitor light pollution or levels of atmospheric gases Animal Monitoring and Tracking Technology Animals may be monitored for research or game man- agement or to assess progress and recovery of a species’ population. One traditional method of counting animals in a population is through direct observation in situ. This method requires researchers on the ground to manually count the ani- mals. This method is useful but specimens may be easily over- looked or counted more than once. Researchers may also look for tracks and excrement to identify an animal’s presence in an area. fieldwork/Shutterstock.com Figure 19-11. Penguin tagging allows scientists to determine migration patterns and population sizes. This satellite tagging device is connected to a gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) and relays information on penguin behaviors in the Falkland Islands. Has tagging had any negative effects on penguins?