Wild animals leave DNA on plants, making them easier to track – here’s what scientists found in a Ugandan rainforest

Researchers in Uganda’s Kibale National Park have found that swabbing leaves with cotton buds can be an effective way to monitor species and map biodiversity. By collecting environmental DNA from the leaves, the team detected over 50 species of mammals, birds, and a frog in just over an hour. This low-tech and low-cost method offers a promising tool for large-scale biomonitoring efforts, particularly in areas that are rapidly changing.