What did late 19th-century expeditions study in the Gobi Desert?

During the late 19th century, European interest in the Gobi was rekindled through various geographic expeditions launched by the British and Russians.1

While the primary focus of these expeditions was often the Takla Makan Desert, most of these groups traveled through the Gobi as part of their journeys. During these crossings, the expeditions conducted:1

• Basic mapping of the region.1
• Studies of the flora and fauna native to the desert.1

These efforts marked a period of renewed scientific exploration in the area, which had remained largely unknown and untraveled by Europeans following the 13th-century accounts of Marco Polo.1