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Journal article
Large‐scale and long‐term wildlife research and monitoring using camera traps: a continental synthesis
Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Vol.100(2), pp.530-555
2025
PMID: 39822039
Abstract
Camera traps are widely used in wildlife research and monitoring, so it is imperative to understand their strengths, limitations, and potential for increasing impact. We investigated a decade of use of wildlife cameras (2012–2022) with a case study on Australian terrestrial vertebrates using a multifaceted approach. We ( i ) synthesised information from a literature review; ( ii ) conducted an online questionnaire of 132 professionals; ( iii ) hosted an in‐person workshop of 28 leading experts representing academia, non‐governmental organisations (NGOs), and government; and ( iv ) mapped camera trap usage based on all sources. We predicted that the last decade would have shown: ( i ) exponentially increasing sampling effort, a continuation of camera usage trends up to 2012; ( ii ) analytics to have shifted from naive presence/absence and capture rates towards hierarchical modelling that accounts for imperfect detection, thereby improving the quality of outputs and inferences on occupancy, abundance, and density; and ( iii ) broader research scales in terms of multi‐species, multi‐site and multi‐year studies. However, the results showed that the sampling effort has reached a plateau, with publication rates increasing only modestly. Users reported reaching a saturation point in terms of images that could be processed by humans and time for complex analyses and academic writing. There were strong taxonomic and geographic biases towards medium–large mammals (>500 g) in forests along Australia's southeastern coastlines, reflecting proximity to major cities. Regarding analytical choices, bias‐prone indices still accounted for ~50% of outputs and this was consistent across user groups. Multi‐species, multi‐site and multiple‐year studies were rare, largely driven by hesitancy around collaboration and data sharing. There is no widely used repository for wildlife camera images and the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) is the dominant repository for sharing tabular occurrence records. However, the ALA is presence‐only and thus is unsuitable for creating detection histories with absences, inhibiting hierarchical modelling. Workshop discussions identified a pressing need for collaboration to enhance the efficiency, quality and scale of research and management outcomes, leading to the proposal of a Wildlife Observatory of Australia (WildObs). To encourage data standards and sharing, WildObs should ( i ) promote a metadata collection app; ( ii ) create a tagged image repository to facilitate artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) computer vision research in this space; ( iii ) address the image identification bottleneck via the use of AI/ML‐powered image‐processing platforms; ( iv ) create data commons for detection histories that are suitable for hierarchical modelling; and ( v ) provide capacity building and tools for hierarchical modelling. Our review highlights that while Australia's investments in monitoring biodiversity with cameras position it to be a global leader in this context, realising that potential requires a paradigm shift towards best practices for collecting, curating, sharing and analysing ‘Big Data’. Our findings and framework have broad applicability outside Australia to enhance camera usage to meet conservation and management objectives ranging from local to global scales. This review articulates a country/continental observatory approach that is also suitable for international collaborative wildlife research networks.
Details
- Title
- Large‐scale and long‐term wildlife research and monitoring using camera traps: a continental synthesis
- Authors/Creators
- Tom Bruce - The University of QueenslandZachary Amir - The University of QueenslandBenjamin L Allen - University of Southern QueenslandBrendan F. Alting - UNSW SydneyMatt Amos - Department of Primary IndustriesJohn Augusteyn - Parks and Wildlife ServiceGuy‐Anthony Ballard - University of New EnglandLinda M. Behrendorff - Agriculture and FoodKristian Bell - Deakin UniversityAndrew J. Bengsen - OrangeAmi Bennett - The University of MelbourneJoe S. Benshemesh - National Malleefowl Recovery Group 52 Naroon Rd Alphington Victora 3078 AustraliaJoss Bentley - NSW Department of Planning and EnvironmentCaroline J. Blackmore - National Parks and Wildlife ServiceRemo Boscarino-Gaetano - University of New EnglandLachlan A. Bourke - The University of QueenslandRob Brewster - Rewilding Australia Program WWF‐Australia PO Box 528 Sydney New South Wales 2001 AustraliaBarry W. Brook - University of TasmaniaColin Broughton - Bush Heritage AustraliaJessie C. Buettel - University of TasmaniaAndrew Carter - Charles Sturt UniversityAntje Chiu-Werner - School of Natural Sciences University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay Tasmania 7001 AustraliaAndrew W. Claridge - New South Wales Department of Primary IndustriesSarah Comer - Parks and Wildlife ServiceSebastien Comte - New South Wales Department of Primary IndustriesRod M. Connolly - Griffith UniversityMitchell A. Cowan - Charles Sturt UniversitySophie L. Cross - The University of Western AustraliaCalum X. Cunningham - University of TasmaniaAnastasia H. Dalziell - Western Sydney UniversityHugh F. Davies - University of New EnglandJenny Davis - Charles Darwin UniversityStuart J. Dawson - Murdoch University, Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and SustainabilityJulian Di Stefano - The University of MelbourneChristopher R. Dickman - The University of SydneyMartin L. Dillon - Northern (Arctic) Federal UniversityTim S. Doherty - The University of SydneyMichael M. Driessen - Tasmanian GovernmentDon A. Driscoll - Deakin UniversityShannon J. Dundas - Murdoch University, Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and SustainabilityAnne C. Eichholtzer - Deakin UniversityTodd F. Elliott - University of New EnglandPeter Elsworth - Department of Primary IndustriesBronwyn A. Fancourt - University of New EnglandLoren L. Fardell - The University of QueenslandJames Faris - National Parks and Wildlife ServiceAdam Fawcett - National Parks and Wildlife ServiceDiana O. Fisher - The University of QueenslandPeter J. S. Fleming - University of New EnglandDavid M. Forsyth - OrangeAlejandro D. Garza-Garcia - Griffith UniversityWilliam L. Geary - The University of MelbourneGraeme Gillespie - Department of Environment, Parks and Water SecurityPatrick J. Giumelli - LevelAna Gracanin - Australian National UniversityHedley S. Grantham - The University of QueenslandAaron C. Greenville - The University of SydneyStephen R. Griffiths - La Trobe UniversityHeidi Groffen - Kangaroo Island Land for Wildlife Association Incorporated PO Box 1039 Kingscote South Australia 5223 AustraliaDavid G. Hamilton - University of TasmaniaLana Harriott - Department of Primary IndustriesMatthew W. Hayward - Bangor UniversityGeoffrey Heard - Terrestrial Ecosystem Research NetworkJaime Heiniger - University of New EnglandKristofer M. Helgen - Australian MuseumTim J. Henderson - Australian Wildlife ConservancyLorna Hernandez-Santin - The University of QueenslandCesar Herrera - Griffith UniversityBen T. Hirsch - James Cook UniversityRosemary Hohnen - Charles Darwin UniversityTracey A. Hollings - The University of MelbourneConrad J. Hoskin - James Cook UniversityBronwyn A. Hradsky - The University of MelbourneJacinta E. Humphrey - La Trobe UniversityPaul R. Jennings - Kangaroo Island Landscape Board, Kangaroo Island Landscape Board 35 Dauncey Street Kingscote South Australia 5223 AustraliaMenna E. Jones - University of TasmaniaNeil R. Jordan - UNSW SydneyCatherine L. Kelly - Department of Primary IndustriesMalcolm S. Kennedy - Queensland Department of Environment and ScienceMonica L. Knipler - NSW Department of Planning and EnvironmentTracey L. Kreplins - Murdoch University, Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and SustainabilityKiara L. L'Herpiniere - Bush Heritage AustraliaWilliam F. Laurance - James Cook UniversityTyrone H. Lavery - The University of MelbourneMark Le Pla - The University of MelbourneLily Leahy - La Trobe UniversityAshley Leedman - Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and WaterSarah Legge - Charles Darwin UniversityAna V. Leitão - Universidade do PortoMike Letnic - UNSW SydneyMichael J. Liddell - James Cook UniversityZoë E. Lieb - The University of QueenslandGrant D. Linley - Charles Sturt UniversityAllan T. Lisle - The University of QueenslandCheryl A. Lohr - Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Woodvale Western Australia 6026 AustraliaNatalya Maitz - The University of QueenslandKieran D. Marshall - NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and WaterRachel T. Mason - Deakin UniversityDaniela F. Matheus-Holland - Australian Wildlife ConservancyLeo B. McComb - The University of Melbourne
- Publication Details
- Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Vol.100(2), pp.530-555
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Cambridge Philosophical Society.
- Number of pages
- 26
- Identifiers
- 991005732476707891
- Copyright
- © 2025 The Author(s).
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability; School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.35 Zoology & Animal Ecology
- 3.35.274 Wildlife Ecology
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