Foreword to the Special Issue on ‘The rapidly expanding role of drones as a tool for wildlife research’
Aaron J. Wirsing
A D , Aaron N. Johnston B and Jeremy J. Kiszka C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
B U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Bozeman, MT 59715, USA.
C Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL 33818, USA.
D Corresponding author. Email: wirsinga@uw.edu
Wildlife Research 49(1) i-v https://doi.org/10.1071/WR22006
Submitted: 17 January 2022 Accepted: 25 January 2022 Published: 9 February 2022
Abstract
Drones have emerged as a popular wildlife research tool, but their use for many species and environments remains untested and research is needed on validation of sampling approaches that are optimised for unpiloted aircraft. Here, we present a foreword to a special issue that features studies pushing the taxonomic and innovation boundaries of drone research and thus helps address these knowledge and application gaps. We then conclude by highlighting future drone research ideas that are likely to push biology and conservation in exciting new directions.
Keywords: animal behavior, animal health, conflict, habitat characterisation, human–wildlife conflict, remotely piloted aircraft systems, unmanned/unpiloted aerial vehicles, unmanned/unpiloted aircraft systems, RPAS, UAS, UAV.
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