Ecologists study complex systems, and often need to use non-standard methods of sampling and data analysis. The data might be collected over a long-time scale, involve little spatial replication, or be highly aggregated in space. There have been many fruitful collaborations between ecologists and statisticians, often leading to the development of new statistical methods. In this brief overview of the subject, I will focus on three areas that have been of particular interest in the management of animal populations.