The precision of procedures and sustained effort in field work are the preliminaries for the analysis and interpretation of data. Samples, annotations and equipment arrive at the research centre where the researchers work.

The improvement in knowledge of the environment and travel and communication means facilitate expeditions, while the objectives of naturalist research have become more complex. The first explorations sought the what, where and when of flora and fauna inventories. With scientific progress, the researchers become interested in the how and why.