Conventional bird observation methods are line survey or point count method by bare eyes or through binoculars or telescopes. But in this study, the possibility of monitoring waterbirds using drones beyond the conventional research methods was explored. It also describes the direction of producing and accumulating images of waterbird habitats as a method to efficiently determine changes in waterbird habitats. From the study, it was concluded that waterbird monitoring using drones was a new monitoring technique which could be applied to the field and 26 kinds of waterbirds were observed. In the case of a drone with a single lens, it was difficult to identify objects because the size of the subject was too small at a certain altitude. In this case, zoom lens can be an alternative. It has also been verified that image analysis software can be used to accumulate images of waterbird habitats. If various kinds of advanced drones and cameras are used, it would be possible to monitor larger areas including the areas that are difficult for human access and to observe more waterbirds and wider habitats.

The world of technology is pleasantly evolving to a stage where small robotic aid may be used to ease the work of researchers, and to one day bring more accurate results than the current human abilities allow. In the research field of species monitoring in biology, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have begun to play an important role in how research is approached, analyzed, and then applied for further investigation, particularly by focusing on a single species. This paper uses data that has been collected from June to October 2015, to demonstrate how the innovative idea of using UAVs to monitor a particular species will bring a positive development in conservation research, and what it was able to achieve in this research field so far. More precisely, we examine the potential of UAVs to take center stage in future research, as well as their current accuracy. This paper describes the use of the commercially available Phantom 2 Vision+ for the detection, assessment, and monitoring of the butterfly species Libythea celtis, demonstrating how it can help the monitoring of butterflies and how it could be developed for even more adventurous and detailed research in the future.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are a new and yet constantly developing part of forest inventory studies and vegetation-monitoring fields. Covering large areas, their extensive usage has saved time and money for researchers and conservationists to survey vegetation for various data analyses. Post-processing imaging software has improved the effectiveness of UAVs further by providing 3D models for accurate visualization of the data. We focus on determining the coniferous tree coverage to show the current advantages and disadvantages of the orthorectified 2D and 3D models obtained from the image photogrammetry software, Pix4Dmapper Pro—Non-Commercial. We also examine the methodology used for mapping the study site, additionally investigating the spread of coniferous trees. The collected images were transformed into 2D black and white binary pixel images to calculate the coverage area of coniferous trees in the study site using MATLAB. The research was able to conclude that the 3D model was effective in perceiving the tree composition in the designated site, while the orthorectified 2D map is appropriate for the clear differentiation of coniferous and deciduous trees. In its conclusion, the paper will also be able to show how UAVs could be improved for future usability.

The southern and eastern parts of the Gobi Desert area are a unique dry ecosystem with a diverse regional desert, semi-desert, and mountain dry steppe flora. This area habitat is located at the overlap of different floristic regions; on its northeast side, Central Asian desert flora is dominating, and on the eastern side, East Asian flora is observed. The comprehensive survey was carried out to find the floral diversity of the medicinal plants on the region. All recorded species in this study were based on the collected voucher specimens between June and August in the year 2017. We recorded 23 families, 57 genera, and 78 species of vascular plants. The families Asteraceae (15 species), Fabaceae (10 species), and Amaranthaceae (10 species) were represented most in the study area, while Caragana (5 species), Salsola (4 species), and Arnebia (3 species) were the most common genera found. Conservation status for remarkable species was also reviewed based on the literature. Around the study area, 24 species as “sub-endemic,” 10 species as “very rare,” 4 species as “rare,” 1 species as “alien,” 13 species as “relict,” 10 species as “Red Book,” 2 species as “endangered (EN),” 3 species as “vulnerable (VU),” 3 species as “near threatened (NT),” and 2 species as “least concern (LC)” plants are growing.