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lication bias in biological studies showing nonsignificant results (Csada et al.
1996). Publication of all marker evaluation studies would provide researchers
and animal care and use committees with current knowledge regarding accept-
able animal markers.
It remains the responsibility of reviewers and editors to ensure that appro-
priate marker evaluation studies are cited or conducted in the published eco-
logical and wildlife literature. In some cases, it may be sufficient to justify the
use of a given marker by citing previous studies that have failed to detect
effects, but when researchers are applying a marker to a new (or unrelated)
species, or using a marker that has not been evaluated previously, appropriate
tests must be undertaken. Again, experimental design and sample size are para-
mount considerations for tests. Publication of technique validation studies is
common in other scientific fields (see Notice to Contributors,
Journal of Repro-
duction and Fertility,
1991 93[1]:ii-iv) and should be encouraged in animal
ecology. Because current funding sources often do not support technique eval-
uation studies, researchers must find other sources of funding for such work,
such as private animal welfare organizations, and they must encourage tradi-
tional sources of funding to support evaluation of marking methods. Only
through additional studies and published results will it be possible for col-
leagues to thoroughly evaluate potential marker effects and choose the most
appropriate markers.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to Cynthia Kapke and Kirk Bates for assisting with our search of the litera-
ture. Wanda Manning of the library at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and Carolyn
Fritschle at the R. R. Olendorf Memorial Library at the Snake River Field Station also
assisted in obtaining information. Georgia Garling, Kirk Bates, and Peggy Zumwalt assisted
with manuscript preparation. We thank the participants of the conference in Erice, Italy, for
their helpful comments, and R. M. DeGraaf, J. A. Litvaitis, and P. R. Sievert for their
reviews.
Literature Cited
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Adams, I. T. and G. D. Campbell. 1996. Improved radio-collaring for southern flying
squirrels.
Wildlife Society Bulletin
24: 4-7.
Adams, L. G., F. J. Singer, and B. W. Dale. 1995. Caribou calf mortality in Denali National
Park, Alaska.
Journal of Wildlife Management
59: 584-594.
Aldridge, H. D. J. N. and R. M. Brigham. 1988. Load carrying and maneuverability in an
