Forest biology contains an innumerable amount of different subjects for research. There are animals, plants, fungi and microbial organisms. The research can focus either on the ecosystem as a whole or even in individual genes of specific organisms. Because of this, different kinds of research necessitate different tools and methods.

The most common methods of studying forest plants are vegetation squares and lines. When using squares or lines to study forest vegetation, a rectangular patch of land is selected and focused on. The plants contained within this area are counted, identified, and studied. This gives an estimate of the distribution rates of different plants, which can then be used to compare the plant life of different forests and regions.

In zooecological research, observing or catching the animals studied often proves harder than when researching plants. Binoculars, telescopes and cameras with long object lenses are useful tools for observing and studying birds. Birds can also be caught for ringing, which is useful when studying the movement patterns of individuals and populations. Small mammals can be caught with traps that are designed in such a way that they do not harm the animals. Invertebratic animals, such as insects, are caught with nets, light traps and pit fall traps.


Birds can be studied with binoculars and cameras.