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Science & Research · Updated Aug 2026

Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists

Study the origins, behavior, diseases, genetics, and life processes of animals and wildlife. May specialize in wildlife research and management. May collect and analyze biological data to determine the environmental effects of present and potential use of land and water habitats.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
AI Exposure
71/100
High

How much of this occupation’s work can be materially affected by current AI systems.

Replacement Risk
52/100
Moderate

How likely exposure is to translate into reduced human demand.

Includes provisional estimates for AI adoption pressure and labour-market resilience. How this is measured

Evidence quality
Confidence82/100
Task coverage83%

Confidence reflects task coverage, mapping and capability-evidence quality, and how much of the score rests on provisional inputs.

Task-level evidence

What is driving the score?

Occupation scores are built from the task mix—not a single prediction about a job title.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
TaskImportanceAI impactExposure
Inform and respond to public regarding wildlife and conservation issues, such as plant identification, hunting ordinances, and nuisance wildlife.Medium
72
Develop, or make recommendations on, management systems and plans for wildlife populations and habitat, consulting with stakeholders and the public at large to explore options.High
70
Perform administrative duties, such as fundraising, public relations, budgeting, and supervision of zoo staff.Medium
66
Study animals in their natural habitats, assessing effects of environment and industry on animals, interpreting findings and recommending alternative operating conditions for industry.Medium
72
Analyze characteristics of animals to identify and classify them.Medium
74
Study characteristics of animals, such as origin, interrelationships, classification, life histories, diseases, development, genetics, and distribution.Medium
73
Check for, and ensure compliance with, environmental laws, and notify law enforcement when violations are identified.Medium
75
Disseminate information by writing reports and scientific papers or journal articles, and by making presentations and giving talks for schools, clubs, interest groups and park interpretive programs.Medium
73
Organize and conduct experimental studies with live animals in controlled or natural surroundings.Medium
73
Coordinate preventive programs to control the outbreak of wildlife diseases.Medium
74
Prepare collections of preserved specimens or microscopic slides for species identification and study of development or disease.Medium
74
Collect and dissect animal specimens and examine specimens under microscope.Low
37
Most exposed

Where AI can do more

Routine, digitized, and highly repeatable tasks face the greatest pressure.

  1. Check for, and ensure compliance with, environmental laws, and notify law enforcement when violations are identified.75
  2. Analyze characteristics of animals to identify and classify them.74
  3. Coordinate preventive programs to control the outbreak of wildlife diseases.74
  4. Prepare collections of preserved specimens or microscopic slides for species identification and study of development or disease.74
Hardest to automate

Where people still matter

These tasks score lowest on automation feasibility—physical presence, judgement, accountability and real-world variability all resist end-to-end automation.

  1. Collect and dissect animal specimens and examine specimens under microscope.01
  2. Inform and respond to public regarding wildlife and conservation issues, such as plant identification, hunting ordinances, and nuisance wildlife.02
  3. Develop, or make recommendations on, management systems and plans for wildlife populations and habitat, consulting with stakeholders and the public at large to explore options.03
  4. Perform administrative duties, such as fundraising, public relations, budgeting, and supervision of zoo staff.04
  5. Study animals in their natural habitats, assessing effects of environment and industry on animals, interpreting findings and recommending alternative operating conditions for industry.05
Where else this work leads

Related occupations

Occupations O*NET links to this one. Relatedness reflects shared work, not a claim that these roles are safer.

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Beyond AI capability

Adoption and labour-market outlook

Structural factors are kept separate from raw capability so you can see what actually resists automation. Adoption pressure and labour-market resilience are still provisional models—25% of this occupation’s replacement-risk weight rests on them.

Human dependency81
Physical dependency51
Adoption pressure50
Labour-market resilience67
Methodology & sources

O*NET 30.3 occupational data interpreted through the JobsVsAI capability, automation and structural-constraint models.

Confidence82/100
CalculatedAug 21, 2026
Read methodology →