Write a short article (maximum 1,000 words) on the problems and complexities of using traces and signs to determine the presence ( and absence) of mammal species (25%) In the field of ecology, finding and identifying traces and signs has always been one of the most difficult tasks in this field. This is because a whole host of different problems can and most likely will arise. There are several ways to find animal tracking and signs. When searching for a particular species, research will need to be carried out to find out which habitats it will spend most of its time in, this will help narrow down the species list when a footprint or sign has been found. But there's a first problem when someone says we're going to track animals today, you think "great, I'm going to find animal prints", which is easier said than done. Footprints can be extremely difficult to find, especially if you are looking for an animal. species of mammal that spends its life hiding from predators or even predators hiding from prey waiting to ambush. Their footprint will be affected by a number of factors such as: • The type of ground they are on: this will have an effect on the quality of the print. There are several ways to detect this. Scientists can place a surface called "Moon Sand" that is used to collect the prints of large mammals, but this will not print prints of small mammals. (Binstead, 2013) • Weather: Weather can depend on the duration of a print. For example, if it was hot and sunny, a footprint may last all day or even not affect the ground if the ground is dry. But if it rains, the print will be damaged and it will be almost impossible to tell which animal it is. • The type of mammal: The type of animal is a major factor if you want to make a print. Lar...... middle of paper ...... observing color is very important, it can divide into distinct mammal groups, such as rabbits and deer, both of which produce droppings similar to dumplings, but both have different colors. (Trust, n.d.) The advantages of examining the stool are that if it is not dry and is still warm, the animal is not too far away, which gives a clear idea of ​​the presence of the mammal, but does not don't know for how long. The downside is that without experience and proper knowledge of what to look for, it leads to errors in animal identification.BibliographyBinstead, M., 2013. British Wildlife Centre. [Online]Available at: http://britishwildlifecentre.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/mammal-tracking.html[Accessed March 2014].Harris, DW, 2014. Lecture notes. Swansea: snTrust, W., and Poo identification sheet. [Online] Available at: http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk/download/id_poo.htm [Accessed March 2014].