Individual identification method

Japanese: 個体識別法 - こたいしきべつほう（英語表記）individual identification method

In ethology, ecology, and animal sociology, a method of identifying individuals within a species of animal for the study of population dynamics, social structure, etc. It was introduced into the study of wild Japanese macaques in Japan and produced many results, but its origins lie in the study of semi-wild horses conducted by Kinji Imanishi at Toi Cape in Miyazaki Prefecture in 1947-48. Today, individual identification methods have come to be considered indispensable for this type of field research, and their particular significance lies in the fact that they do not merely identify individuals by sex, age, or rank, but place them in terms of kinship, making it possible to observe them over a long period of time.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

動物行動学，生態学，動物社会学において，個体群動態や社会構造などの研究のために動物のある同一種の中の個々を識別する方法。日本における野生ニホンザルの研究に導入されて多くの成果をあげたが，今西錦司が1947‐48年に宮崎県都井岬で行った半野生馬の研究に端を発する。今日，個体識別法は，この種の野外研究には不可欠な方法とされるに至ったが，個体を，性，年齢，順位などによって表すにとどまらず，血縁関係のうえに位置づけ，長期にわたる観察を可能にした点にとくに重要な意義がある。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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