A gentle introduction to camera-trap data analysis

Sollmann wrote an accessible tutorial-style review aimed at newcomers, walking through the main questions camera-trap data can answer and the analytical tools suited to each. She covered relative-abundance indices and their hazards, occupancy modeling for distribution and detection, capture-recapture and spatially explicit capture-recapture for abundance and density, and activity-pattern analysis from timestamps. The paper emphasizes matching the analysis to the ecological question and being explicit about assumptions, especially imperfect detection. By demystifying the analytical landscape without heavy mathematics, it lowers the entry barrier for practitioners, particularly in regions where statistical training is scarce. It is widely recommended as a first reading for students and managers and is frequently cited as an orientation to camera-trap analysis.