Before any model can help, someone has to collect the data. Conservation teams use a mix of sensors, each suited to different questions.
On the ground
Camera traps
Camera traps are motion-triggered cameras left in the field. They capture animals without disturbing them, and can run for weeks between visits.
Acoustic monitoring
Audio recorders listen continuously. Many species are easier to detect by sound than by sight, especially birds, frogs and bats.
From above
Satellites and drones show habitat at larger scales: forest cover, water and land use change. They complement ground sensors rather than replace them.
The data problem
Sensors produce far more material than people can review by hand. Labels are scarce, and what gets recorded depends on where sensors were placed, which can bias results. Part 2 looks at how models help with the volume.