Metabolomics, a technique that analyzes molecules in body fluids like saliva and urine, is rapidly becoming a standard tool for monitoring wild animal health without capturing them. Research shows that over 60% of metabolomics studies on wild vertebrates were published between 2022-2025, with 72% focusing on mammals, many of which are endangered species. This non-invasive approach helps scientists understand animal physiology, reproduction, and nutrition while minimizing stress on vulnerable wildlife populations.
Researchers reviewed 83 studies about a new scientific tool called metabolomics that helps scientists understand wild animal health without invasive procedures. This method analyzes body fluids like saliva, urine, and feces to reveal what’s happening inside animals. According to Gram Research analysis, the field is exploding with over 60% of studies published between 2022-2025, focusing mainly on mammal physiology and diet. The technique is becoming increasingly important for conservation efforts, especially for endangered species, though scientists say more standardized methods are needed to make results more reliable across different animal species.
Key Statistics
A 2026 scoping review of 83 peer-reviewed studies found that over 60% of all metabolomics research on wild vertebrates was published between 2022-2025, indicating rapid growth in the field.
According to research reviewed by Gram, 72% of the 93 wild vertebrate species studied using non-invasive metabolomics were mammals, with 52% of these mammals currently listed as at risk of extinction on the IUCN Red List.
A 2026 systematic review identified that the two most common research areas in wildlife metabolomics were animal physiology and reproduction (30% of studies) and diet and nutrition (27% of studies).
Research shows that while metabolomics studies on wild animals are increasing rapidly, 72% of studies reviewed failed to optimize metabolite extraction methods and most did not adequately consider individual variation within species.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: How scientists are using a technique called metabolomics to understand wild animal health by analyzing body fluids without capturing or harming the animals.
- Who participated: A review of 83 peer-reviewed research papers studying 93 different wild vertebrate species, with 72% being mammals. About half of the mammal species studied are at risk of extinction.
- Key finding: Non-invasive metabolomics research on wild animals has grown dramatically, with over 60% of all studies published in just the last three years (2022-2025), primarily focusing on animal physiology, reproduction, and diet.
- What it means for you: This research method could help scientists better protect endangered animals by understanding their health and stress levels without capturing them. However, the field still needs more standardized practices to ensure results are consistent and reliable.
The Research Details
This was a scoping review, which means researchers searched through scientific databases to find and analyze all existing studies on a specific topic. The team looked through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to find papers about metabolomics in wild vertebrate animals. They included only studies that used non-invasive sampling methods, meaning they didn’t capture or harm the animals. The researchers then organized information from 83 papers into categories to understand trends in the field, including which animal species were studied, what body samples were collected, and what the research focused on.
Metabolomics is a technique that analyzes the small molecules (called metabolites) found in body fluids like saliva, urine, and feces. These molecules tell scientists what’s happening inside an animal’s body, similar to how a blood test reveals information about human health. By studying these molecules without capturing animals, scientists can learn about stress levels, nutrition, reproduction, and disease without disturbing wildlife in their natural habitats.
The review found that most research focused on two main areas: understanding animal physiology and reproduction (30% of studies) and analyzing what animals eat and their nutrition (27% of studies). Most papers studied just one species, but 11 studies looked at multiple species, giving scientists data on 93 different wild vertebrate species total.
This research approach is important because traditional ways of studying wild animals often require capturing them, which causes stress and can harm the animals. Non-invasive metabolomics offers a gentler alternative that still provides valuable health information. For conservation efforts, this is especially valuable because it allows scientists to monitor endangered species without putting additional stress on already vulnerable populations. The rapid growth in this field suggests it’s becoming a standard tool in wildlife research.
This review is reliable because it followed established guidelines for conducting systematic reviews and searched multiple scientific databases to find relevant papers. However, the review also identified important weaknesses in the current research: many studies don’t optimize how they extract metabolites from samples, don’t carefully track storage conditions, don’t consider individual variation within species, and don’t have large enough sample sizes. These issues mean that while the research is growing rapidly, there’s room for improvement in how studies are designed and conducted.
What the Results Show
The review found that metabolomics research on wild animals is experiencing rapid growth, with over 60% of all publications appearing between 2022 and 2025. This suggests the field is becoming more accessible to wildlife researchers, not just chemistry experts. The research covers a diverse range of animal species, with 72% of studies focusing on mammals. Notably, more than half of the mammal species studied are currently listed as at risk of extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), indicating that this tool is being applied to species that most need protection.
The most common research topics were animal physiology and reproduction (30% of studies) and diet and nutrition (27% of studies). These areas are particularly important for conservation because understanding how animals reproduce and what they eat helps scientists manage populations and protect habitats. The researchers found that scientists collected various non-invasive samples including saliva, urine, and feces, which can reveal metabolic information without stressing the animals.
Although most individual studies focused on a single species, the review identified 11 multi-species studies that provided comparative data across different animals. This type of research is valuable because it helps scientists understand which metabolic patterns are common across species and which are unique to specific animals.
The review revealed that while metabolomics is becoming more popular in wildlife research, the field lacks standardization. Few studies optimized how they extracted metabolites from samples, which can significantly affect results. Many researchers didn’t carefully document storage conditions for samples, even though temperature and time can change metabolite levels. Additionally, most studies didn’t use integrated omics platforms, which combine metabolomics with other types of biological analysis like microbiome studies. The review also found that many studies had small sample sizes and didn’t adequately account for natural variation between individual animals of the same species.
This review represents the first comprehensive look at how metabolomics is being used in wild vertebrate research. Previous metabolomics research has focused heavily on humans, domesticated animals like cattle and dogs, and laboratory model animals like mice. The rapid growth documented in this review shows that wildlife researchers are increasingly adopting this technique, though the field is still much smaller than human metabolomics research. The review suggests that wildlife metabolomics could benefit from adopting more rigorous experimental designs already established in human and model animal research.
This review has several important limitations. First, it only included peer-reviewed published papers, so unpublished research or reports from conservation organizations weren’t included. Second, the review focused only on non-invasive sampling methods, so it doesn’t capture research using other approaches. Third, the review didn’t evaluate the quality of individual studies in detail, so some included papers may have had methodological problems. Finally, because metabolomics is a rapidly growing field, new studies are being published constantly, so this review represents only a snapshot of the field as of early 2026.
The Bottom Line
Wildlife researchers and conservation organizations should consider adopting metabolomics as a tool for monitoring animal health and population status, particularly for endangered species. However, the field would benefit from developing standardized protocols for sample collection, storage, and analysis to ensure results are consistent and comparable across studies. Conservation programs should invest in training researchers in metabolomics techniques and in establishing best practices for the field. Confidence in these recommendations is moderate to high because the evidence shows the technique works, but the field still needs standardization.
Wildlife biologists, conservation organizations, zoos, and government agencies responsible for protecting endangered species should pay attention to this research. Veterinarians working with wild animals may also find this technique useful. The general public should care because this tool could help protect endangered animals more effectively. However, this research is primarily relevant to professionals working in wildlife conservation and research, not to individual consumers.
The benefits of metabolomics for wildlife conservation could be realized relatively quickly. As more researchers adopt standardized protocols and the field matures, scientists could begin using this tool for routine monitoring of endangered species within the next 2 to 5 years. However, developing comprehensive metabolomic profiles for different species and understanding what different metabolite patterns mean will take longer, potentially 5 to 10 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is metabolomics and how does it help scientists study wild animals?
Metabolomics analyzes tiny molecules in body fluids like saliva, urine, and feces to reveal what’s happening inside an animal’s body. Scientists use this non-invasive technique to understand wild animal health, stress levels, nutrition, and reproduction without capturing or harming the animals.
Why is non-invasive sampling important for endangered species?
Capturing endangered animals for traditional health checks causes stress and can harm already vulnerable populations. Non-invasive metabolomics allows scientists to monitor endangered species’ health by collecting body fluids, protecting animals while gathering valuable health information.
How fast is metabolomics research on wild animals growing?
The field is growing rapidly, with over 60% of all metabolomics studies on wild vertebrates published between 2022-2025. This suggests the technique is becoming more accessible to wildlife researchers and is increasingly recognized as a valuable conservation tool.
What are the main limitations of current wildlife metabolomics research?
Most studies lack standardized protocols for sample collection and storage, have small sample sizes, and don’t adequately account for natural variation between individual animals. The field would benefit from adopting more rigorous experimental designs to make results more reliable and comparable.
Can metabolomics help save endangered animals?
Yes, metabolomics can help conservation efforts by providing early warning signs of health problems, stress, or poor nutrition in endangered species. Since 52% of mammals studied with this technique are at risk of extinction, the tool is already being applied to species that most need protection.
Want to Apply This Research?
- If you’re involved in wildlife research or conservation, track the number of non-invasive samples collected from your study species each month and monitor how metabolomics results correlate with observable health indicators like weight, behavior, or reproduction success.
- For wildlife professionals: implement non-invasive sampling protocols in your monitoring programs by collecting feces, saliva, or urine samples from study animals and partnering with laboratories that offer metabolomics analysis. For the general public: support conservation organizations that use advanced monitoring techniques like metabolomics to protect endangered species.
- Establish a baseline metabolomic profile for your study species or population, then collect samples at regular intervals (monthly or seasonally) to track changes over time. Compare metabolite patterns with environmental factors like food availability, temperature, and breeding season to understand what different patterns mean for animal health and conservation status.
This article summarizes a scoping review of existing metabolomics research on wild animals and does not represent original research or clinical guidance. Metabolomics is a research tool used by scientists and veterinarians to study animal health and should only be implemented by trained professionals in appropriate laboratory settings. If you work with wildlife or endangered species, consult with qualified wildlife biologists, veterinarians, and conservation experts before implementing metabolomics monitoring programs. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional consultation with wildlife experts.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.