Need to track animals around the world? Tap into the 'spider-verse,' scientists say

Spiderwebs can act as air filters that catch environmental DNA from terrestrial vertebrates, scientists say. (Rob Stothard/Getty Images)

The rich tapestry of life on Earth is fraying, due in large part to human-caused habitat loss and climate change. As more species disappear, researchers are racing to track this global decline in biodiversity to understand its consequences and counteract it through conservation initiatives.

Those efforts rely on accurate animal monitoring, which can be difficult, time-consuming and costly. Now, in new research published in the journal iScience, researchers present evidence for a new low-cost, noninvasive tool that can be used to monitor animals: spiderwebs.