Which method is commonly used to track animal movements in the field?

Radio tracking is a widely utilized method for monitoring animal movements in their natural habitats. This technique involves attaching radio collars or tags to individual animals, which emit signals that can be detected by receivers in the environment. Researchers can then track these signals over time to gather data on the animals' locations, behaviors, and migration patterns.

The effectiveness of radio tracking lies in its ability to provide real-time data on the movements of animals, allowing scientists to study their habitats, interactions with other species, and responses to environmental changes. The technology has proven crucial for wildlife conservation efforts, enabling monitoring of populations that are endangered or threatened.

Other methods mentioned, such as population sampling, geospatial data analysis, and big data analytics, serve different purposes. Population sampling is primarily focused on estimating the size and structure of wildlife populations rather than tracking movements, while geospatial data analysis is more about analyzing spatial information across broader contexts and is not specific to tracking animal movements. Big data analytics can be applied to various fields, including wildlife research, but it typically relies on large datasets that may not be collected in real-time. Therefore, radio tracking stands out as the appropriate choice for directly tracking animal movements in the field.