Unraveling the Vast Diversity of Rainforest Animals Through Swabbing
As the world’s rainforests continue to shrink, researchers are learning more and more about the vast diversity of animals living within them. In a recent study, scientists used a technique called swabbing to survey the biodiversity of animals living inside the rainforest of Costa Rica’s La Selva Biological Station. By swabbing the fur and skin of animals, the researchers were able to capture a wide range of microbial communities associated with a variety of species. This study has revealed just how diverse the rainforest is and how many organisms are dependent on its health. The findings of this study could be used to better understand how rainforest ecosystems are affected by human activities, and to inform conservation plans for the future.
source: Phys.org