Large‐scale and long‐term wildlife research and monitoring using camera traps: a continental synthesis
Authors: Bruce Tom , Amir Zachary , Allen Benjamin L , Alting Brendan F. , Amos Matt , Augusteyn John , Ballard Guy‐Anthony , Behrendorff Linda M. , Bell Kristian , Bengsen Andrew J. , Bennett Ami , Benshemesh Joe S. , Bentley Joss , Blackmore Caroline J. , Boscarino‐Gaetano Remo , Bourke Lachlan A. , Brewster Rob , Brook Barry W. , Broughton Colin , Buettel Jessie C. , Carter Andrew , Chiu‐Werner Antje , Claridge Andrew W. , Comer Sarah , Comte Sebastien , Connolly Rod M. , Cowan Mitchell A. , Cross Sophie L. , Cunningham Calum X. , Dalziell Anastasia H. , Davies Hugh F. , Davis Jenny , Dawson Stuart J. , Di Stefano Julian , Dickman Christopher R. , Dillon Martin L. , Doherty Tim S. , Driessen Michael M. , Driscoll Don A. , Dundas Shannon J. , Eichholtzer Anne C. , Elliott Todd F. , Elsworth Peter , Fancourt Bronwyn A. , Fardell Loren L. , Faris James , Fawcett Adam , Fisher Diana O. , Fleming Peter J. S. , Forsyth David M. , Garza‐Garcia Alejandro D. , Geary William L. , Gillespie Graeme , Giumelli Patrick J. , Gracanin Ana , Grantham Hedley S. , Greenville Aaron C. , Griffiths Stephen R. , Groffen Heidi , Hamilton David G. , Harriott Lana , Hayward Matthew W. , Heard Geoffrey , Heiniger Jaime , Helgen Kristofer M. , Henderson Tim J. , Hernandez‐Santin Lorna , Herrera Cesar , Hirsch Ben T. , Hohnen Rosemary , Hollings Tracey A. , Hoskin Conrad J. , Hradsky Bronwyn A. , Humphrey Jacinta E. , Jennings Paul R. , Jones Menna E. , Jordan Neil R. , Kelly Catherine L. , Kennedy Malcolm S. , Knipler Monica L. , Kreplins Tracey L. , L'Herpiniere Kiara L. , Laurance William F. , Lavery Tyrone H. , Le Pla Mark , Leahy Lily , Leedman Ashley , Legge Sarah , Leitão Ana V. , Letnic Mike , Liddell Michael J. , Lieb Zoë E. , Linley Grant D. , Lisle Allan T. , Lohr Cheryl A. , Maitz Natalya , Marshall Kieran D. , Mason Rachel T. , Matheus‐Holland Daniela F. , McComb Leo B. , McDonald Peter J. , McGregor Hugh , McKnight Donald T. , Meek Paul D. , Menon Vishnu , Michael Damian R. , Mills Charlotte H. , Miritis Vivianna , Moore Harry A. , Morgan Helen R. , Murphy Brett P. , Murray Andrew J. , Natusch Daniel J. D. , Neilly Heather , Nevill Paul , Newman Peggy , Newsome Thomas M. , Nimmo Dale G. , Nordberg Eric J. , O'Dwyer Terence W. , O'Neill Sally , Old Julie M. , Oxenham Katherine , Pauza Matthew D. , Pestell Ange J. L. , Pitcher Benjamin J. , Pocknee Christopher A. , Possingham Hugh P. , Raiter Keren G. , Rand Jacquie S. , Rees Matthew W. , Rendall Anthony R. , Renwick Juanita , Reside April , Rew‐Duffy Miranda , Ritchie Euan G. , Roach Chris P. , Robley Alan , Rog Stefanie M. , Rout Tracy M. , Schlacher Thomas A. , Scomparin Cyril R. , Sitters Holly , Smith Deane A. , Somaweera Ruchira , Spencer Emma E. , Spindler Rebecca E. , Stobo‐Wilson Alyson M. , Stokeld Danielle , Streeting Louise M. , Sutherland Duncan R. , Taggart Patrick L. , Teixeira Daniella , Thompson Graham G. , Thompson Scott A. , Thorpe Mary O. , Todd Stephanie J. , Towerton Alison L. , Vernes Karl , Waller Grace , Wardle Glenda M. , Watchorn Darcy J. , Watson Alexander W. T. , Welbergen Justin A. , Weston Michael A. , Wijas Baptiste J. , Williams Stephen E. , Woodford Luke P. , Wooster Eamonn I. F. , Znidersic Elizabeth , Luskin Matthew S. 
Published: January 2025

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.