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ABSTRACT Aim Location Methods Results Main Conclusions Primary productivity is an important mechanism influencing the species richness of animal taxa such as mammals. However, the factors that mediate the relationship between carnivore species richness, for example, and productivity are not well understood. We examined whether the relationship between carnivore species richness and primary productivity followed a hump‐shaped relationship and explored potential pathways by which productivity influences carnivore communities.Western Great Basin, USA.We deployed a camera‐trap grid across a strong precipitation—and the corresponding productivity—gradient and estimated carnivore species richness using a novel application of a multisession community occupancy model. To quantify the relationship between carnivore species richness and productivity, we included the linear and quadratic effects of average annual precipitation as covariates on carnivore species richness. We fit additional community models linking carnivore species richness to vegetation and land cover variables to identify factors that mediate the relationship between carnivore richness and productivity.The linear effect of precipitation on carnivore richness was positive and the quadratic effect was negative, supporting the hump‐shaped relationship where richness declines at the highest levels of productivity. Similarly, carnivore species richness followed a quadratic relationship with vegetation height along the productivity gradient. The relationship between carnivore species richness and proportion tree cover was positive, with limited evidence that open vegetation types in the surrounding landscape increased site‐level richness.In addition to supporting the notion that primary productivity has a strong and nonlinear influence on local‐scale carnivore species richness, our results suggest that vegetation structure may be an important mediator of this relationship. Although future changes in precipitation and productivity due to climate change are uncertain, our results indicate that targeting areas of intermediate productivity and vegetation height, such as woodlands, may be key for conserving species‐rich carnivore communities along productivity gradients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The information such as survival, longevity, or recruitment is relatively unknown for most jaguar populations. Herein, we present results from an assessment performed from March through May 2023 in a region where jaguars were assessed during the 2010–2016 period. Jaguars persisted, and a female registered during 2014 survived for nine years with a free-living longevity estimated at 11–12 years. This evidence indicates the region as important for habitat restoration and the establishment of a jaguar sanctuary in Michoacan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During a limited period in the summer of 2021, 17-year cicada species (Magicicada cassini , M. septendecula , M. septendecim) represented a large pulse of easily accessible food unique to forest ecosystems in the eastern United States. Using trail cameras and acoustic recorders, we tested whether the activity levels of 8 mammal species in northwestern Indiana shifted in response to spatial and temporal variation in cicada densities from 18 May to 20 June 2021. Cicada densities varied temporally and spatially across all study sites. Most mammal species with sufficient data showed no response to cicada emergence, including 2 tree squirrel species, Peromyscus mice, Eastern Chipmunks (Tamias striatus), and 2 species of bats. Raccoons (Procyon lotor), likely cicada predators, showed a quadratic or more complex activity response to cicada abundance, indicating a potential saturation point at densities near 1 cicada per m2. Surprisingly, White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) activity decreased to almost 0 at the same cicada densities when we expected no change in activity. While size or accessibility may exclude cicadas as prey for small and volant mammals, our results suggest predation and satiation by Raccoons. In contrast, deer may be avoiding areas of cicada abundance due to other stimuli, such as high noise output, which may decrease their ability to detect predators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Planning conservation action requires accurate estimates of abundance and distribution of the target species. For many mammals, particularly those inhabiting tropical forests, there are insufficient data to assess their conservation status. We present a framework for predicting species distribution using jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi), a poorly known felid for which basic information on abundance and distribution is lacking. Location: Mesoamerica and South America. Time Period: From 2003 to 2021. Taxa: Herpailurus yagouaroundi. Methods: We combined camera‐trap data from multiple sites and used an occupancy modelling framework accounting for imperfect detection to identify habitat associations and predict the range‐wide distribution of jaguarundis. Results: Our model predicted that the probability of jaguarundi occupancy is positively associated with rugged terrain, herbaceous cover, and human night‐time light intensity. Jaguarundi occupancy was predicted to be higher where precipitation was less seasonal, and at intermediate levels of diurnal temperature range. Our camera data also revealed additional detections of jaguarundis beyond the current International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) range distribution, including the Andean foothills of Colombia and Bolivia. Main Conclusion: Occupancy was predicted to be low throughout much of Amazonian lowlands, a vast area at the centre of jaguarundi known range. Further work is required to investigate whether this area represents sub‐optimal conditions for the species. Overall, we estimate a crude global jaguarundi population of 35,000 to 230,000 individuals, covering 4,453,406 km2 of Meso‐ and South America at the 0.5 probability level of occupancy. Our current framework allows for an initially detailed, well‐informed species distribution that should be challenged and refined with improved habitat layers and additional records of jaguarundi detection. We encourage similar studies of lesser‐known mammals, pooling existing by‐catch data from the growing bank of camera‐trap surveys around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat loss and prey species shortages represent serious issues for many wild carnivores. Carnivores may expand their search for prey and suitable habitat to cover a wide area, seeking alternative sources of food at different localities, including human-modified land such as agricultural areas. Agricultural areas in Tabuk Province, north-western kingdom of Saudi Arabia have been expanded substantially over the last three decades. This research studied the potential role of large agricultural areas as supplementary habitats for wild carnivores in a desert ecosystem. Camera traps recorded three mammalian carnivores: golden jackal (Canis aureus), grey wolf (Canis lupus), and red fox (Vulpes vulpes). Although red foxes were highly abundant across the surveyed sites, an analysis showed that they avoided sites near highways. The golden jackal is rarely documented in Saudi Arabia and there is a significant lack of information about this species. All three detected wild carnivores are officially protected species in Saudi Arabia. It can be concluded that agricultural areas represent potential survival sites offering suitable conditions in a harsh desert ecosystem, especially under conditions of prey depletion and native habitat degradation. Further research is required to better understand how agricultural areas can be used to promote conservation actions for wild animals and improve their ecological status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying positional behaviors is important for understanding how animals interact with their immediate environment. This is particularly important in arboreal species since arboreal milieus are primarily characterized by three‐dimensional problems that arboreal species must overcome to efficiently access resources. Similarly, a fundamental aspect of an animal's ecology is its daily activity pattern. This information is important for understanding the basic ecology of animal species and their eco‐evolutionary dynamics. This study sought to understand the habitat use and nocturnal lifestyle of the highly arboreal kinkajou (Potos flavus) by documenting variation in positional behaviors and activity patterns using 2223 photographs obtained from 27 camera traps in French Guiana. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Kernel density estimation (KDE), and Gantt charts. Our results indicate that kinkajous show a strictly nocturnal activity pattern beginning from 19:00 h to 05:57 h, with peak active periods between 01:00 h and 02:00 h. The most frequent activities were scanning (48.33%) and traveling (47.13%). Quadrupedal walking (95.43%) was the main locomotor behavior during traveling. However, when crossing gaps between two substrates, kinkajous would either bridge (42.22%), leap (33.33%), or drop (26.67%) across gaps. Inactive periods were characterized by grooming (77.32%) and resting (27.84%) while mostly assuming a sitting (90.67%) or a catlike body curl posture (92.59%), interchangeably. This study highlights the broad array of positional behaviors displayed by kinkajous, further providing information to understand its basic ecology and eco‐evolutionary dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of Honey Badger Mellivora capensis (Schreber, 1776) is widely distributed but in-depth of ecological understanding this species is still lacking from Asian portion of its global range. The species is listed in Scheduled-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 providing it with the highest level of protection as this is very rare. The current note presents, the first known camera-trap records of this species in Tarai East Forest Division (TEFD), Uttarakhand, India. During the survey exercise, a total 35 camera traps were randomly installed in different habitats (e.g. Natural Sal forest patch, Mixed forests, Sharda River-Canal) in Surai range of the division. As resulted, two images of Honey Badger were captured from the Sharda River bank-Canal habitat of Bagha-I beat, of Surai range. The camera trap study suggests that Honey Badger is rarely sighted in Tarai east sal forest. For protection and management of this species, further need to generate more information and in-depth understanding of their ecological and of population status in around forest habitat of the division. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cases of anomalous coloration are regularly reported in Neotropical mammals, including the rodent family Dasyproctidae (agoutis and acouchis) where leucistic and albino individuals have been observed. Here, we document the first case of leucism in the Brown Agouti (Dasyprocta variegata) in Bolivia. During a camera trap survey of the Barba Azul Nature Reserve, we obtained footage of a Brown Agouti with a completely white body. Additional pictures of this individual revealed that it has black eyes, indicating leucism instead of albinism. Previous observations (since 2017) of a white agouti in the area suggest that these anomalously colored individuals can survive in the wild. Rare observations of top predators suggest a relatively low predation pressure in the area. We had only one record of a South-American Puma (Puma concolor) during our camera trap survey. Hence, leucistic individuals of a common prey species might also be indicative of the dwindling population densities of top predators in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the diversity and ecology of mesocarnivores in the Mpem and Djim National Parks in central Cameroon. Therefore, we undertook a rapid assessment using camera traps from September 2021 to December 2021. The main objective of our study was to collect data on the diversity, abundance and relative frequency of mesocarnivores per habitat type and their activity period using camera traps with a distance sampling method. In 1700 trap nights, we recorded 53 events of seven mesocarnivores, all belonging to the family of Viveridae, Herpesdidae and Felidae which yield 3.12 mesocarnivores per 100 days. The black‐legged mongoose (Bdeogale nigripes, Pucheran, 1855) exhibited the highest capture rate (CR, 0.88). The long‐nosed mongoose (Xenogale naso, Winton, 1901) was found in all habitats class and was the more active mesocarnivore. The Shannon‐Weaver diversity index (H) showed a high diversity of species in the community with high diversity in the near primary forest. We obtained a lower dominance of one species over the other, a lower richness and a more even distribution of species between habitats. Our results suggest a possible spatio‐temporal niche partitioning between the species recorded, with blotched genet (Genetta maculata, Gray, 1830), showing no clear peak of activity. However, the rarefaction curve indicates that the effort expended was insufficient, suggesting that additional sampling is required to obtain a reasonable estimate of species richness within our community. The activity patterns of the recorded mesocarnivores were generally similar to those reported elsewhere but suggest some behavioural flexibility. Although all these species are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, the low number of recorded events may indicate that mesocarnivores may be threatened in this area if effective conservation strategies are not implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining water availability is crucial for sustaining wildlife populations in African savannah ecosystems, especially in semi‐arid regions where natural surface water sources are limited. The establishment of Artificial Water Points (AWPs) has become a common management strategy in protected areas to mitigate the effects of water scarcity. This study investigated the spatio‐temporal patterns of mammal visitation to AWPs in Majete Wildlife Reserve, Malawi, over an eight‐year period using motion‐triggered camera traps. The study documented a total of 34 medium‐ to large‐sized mammal species, with warthog, waterbuck, impala and yellow baboon being the most frequently captured. Temporal analysis reveals diurnal visitation patterns, with peak activity during mid‐day hours, and seasonal variations, with most species exhibiting increased visitation during the hot‐dry season. Spatial analysis identifies preferences for AWPs proximate to perennial rivers and tourist infrastructure, emphasising the role of habitat features and human presence in AWP utilisation. Management implications include the need for tailored strategies addressing species‐specific behaviours and habitat conditions, alongside ongoing monitoring efforts to ensure the sustainability of wildlife populations and ecological integrity. Despite the inherent limitations of camera trap methodology, this study provides valuable insights into AWP management strategies essential for conserving biodiversity in semi‐arid environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Cats are a common sight across Australia, freely roaming not only through urban areas but also within natural habitats, including protected areas like national parks. This unrestricted movement raises concerns due to potential impacts on native wildlife populations. North Head, Manly, located in New South Wales, serves as a prime example, boasting a rich biodiversity that includes endangered populations of Long-nosed Bandicoots and Little Penguins. Recent observations by wildlife officers within Sydney Harbour National Park and the North Head Sanctuary highlighted the presence of cats, prompting a deeper investigation into their spatial and temporal distribution. Cameras were installed across the headland over a five-week period to capture cat and native fauna activity. Cats were frequently observed at the interface with the urban area of Manly. Moreover, cat activity primarily occurred during the night, coinciding with periods of heightened native mammal activity. These findings underscore the potential for direct and indirect interactions between cats and native wildlife within the headland, with implications for species conservation efforts. This study emphasises the importance of implementing proactive management strategies to mitigate the potential impact of feline predation on local biodiversity while also highlighting the need for further research in this area. Cats (Felis catus) are widespread across Australia, including within natural and protected areas, and in many areas, cats, including owned domestic cats, are not restricted in where or when they can roam. In Australia, cats have contributed to the decline of many native species and continue to be a problem for governments. North Head, Manly, is home to an endangered population of Long-nosed Bandicoot (Perameles nasuta) and the only mainland breeding colony of Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) in New South Wales (NSW). Camera traps were installed for a 5-week period across North Head to determine the spatial and temporal distribution of cat activity. As well as capturing instances of cats, the cameras detected native animals such as birds, possums, Long-nosed Bandicoots and other small mammals. An analysis of the camera images showed cats could be found within protected areas of the headland (where cats are prohibited) and along the boundary with the adjacent suburban area of Manly. Cats were mostly detected during the night. There were high occurrences of overlap between cats and Long-nosed Bandicoots (Dhat 0.82), possums (Dhat 0.88) and other small mammals (Dhat 0.67). These findings indicate that cats are active across the Manly headland at the same time as native animals, both within protected areas where cats are prohibited and in adjacent residential areas, and this could have implications for these populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammalian females with unweaned offspring often engage in spatial and temporal segregation to avoid encounters with conspecifics, reducing the risks of infanticide and resource competition. Such behavioral strategies have been reported in bears (Ursus spp.), but knowledge is limited in Asiatic black bears (U. thibetanus). Here, we investigated the temporal segregation of Asiatic black bears with unweaned offspring as a behavioral strategy, using 21 camera traps in Shirakawa Village, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, from June to October 2019. Such a behavioral strategy would be influenced by food abundance, so we also evaluated the production of 6 fruits that are consumed by bears in the study area. Although a direct relationship may not be evident, our findings provided preliminary but suggestive evidence of temporal segregation, with females with unweaned offspring displaying increased daytime activity compared with solitary bears, possibly as an attempt to avoid infanticide and competition for food access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camera‐based abundance estimators are an alternative methodology of growing interest in both research and management applications. The statistical formulations of camera‐based abundance estimators using time‐lapse data should theoretically produce precise and unbiased estimates; however, production of unbiased results also requires meeting several important assumptions, and real‐world case studies evaluating such results remain relatively few. We applied instantaneous sampling (IS) and space‐to‐event (STE) estimators to remote camera data collected in April 2021 via time‐lapse sampling of closed populations of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) on Wild Horse Island in western Montana, USA, and compared results for bighorn sheep to aerial and ground‐based counts. Point estimates from camera‐based approaches underestimated bighorn sheep populations by 32–44% (IS estimator) and 62–69% (STE estimator) relative to aerial and ground counts. Patchy spatial distribution and group‐living behavior of sheep resulted in a high degree of noise surrounding the IS estimate. In comparison, a low point estimate with relatively narrow confidence intervals suggested potential sensitivity of the STE estimator to violating assumptions of independence among individual animals and sampling occasions. Estimates of mule deer had improved precision over sheep estimates, as indicated by lower estimated coefficients of variation of the mean (CVmean) derived from the analytic SE estimator. Using 15‐m viewsheds and the IS estimators, mule deer density estimates came with a 26% CVmean compared to 43% CVmean for bighorn sheep. This discrepancy may be a result of differences in distribution, behavior, and relative abundance between the 2 species. Accounting for group size and increasing time between sampling may improve accuracy of density estimates and adhere better to model assumptions when estimating precision. In addition, factors influencing viewshed and resulting density extrapolations must be considered carefully. While camera‐based methods theoretically provide an alternative way to estimate density when traditional methods are impractical, our results suggest that more work is needed to ensure density estimates are accurate and precise enough to inform population management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moose (Alces alces) and woodland caribou (Ranger tarandus caribou) are the 2 large prey species for wolves (Canis lupus) in the Nearctic boreal forest in North America. Caribou have declined, with widespread anthropogenic disturbance as the ultimate cause and wolf predation as the proximal cause. To conserve caribou the government of Alberta, Canada initiated a wolf control program to reduce predation rates on caribou populations and contribute to caribou population recovery. Predators play an important role in shaping the structure and function of ecosystems through top‐down forces. We hypothesized that the strongest factors influencing moose occurrences would reflect changes in predation risk before and after the onset of wolf control. We weighed evidence for competing hypothesis by deploying cameras across a highly industrialized landscape in Alberta for 3 years after wolf control (2017–2020), capitalizing on 3 years of existing data before the onset of wolf control (2011–2014). We created generalized linear models representing competing hypotheses about moose response to natural and anthropogenic landscape features before and after wolf control, examining support for each in an information‐theoretic framework. Prior to wolf control, the model containing landscape features providing security cover was best‐supported, but this was scale‐dependent. After wolf control, the model containing landscape features that offer increased forage opportunities was best‐supported. Unexpectedly, the direction of effect was often opposite to predictions, with moose avoiding some features thought to provide security and forage. We demonstrate that lethal predator control affects the spatial distribution of its primary prey species but in ways we do not fully comprehend, highlighting the need for a better understanding of community dynamics following wolf control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compensate for mineral deficiencies in food sources, numerous ungulate species use various methods, such as salt licking, soil ingestion, and gnawing on antlers or bones. While osteophagia, the act of gnawing on antlers or bones, is well-documented in cervid species, it has only been observed in sika deer (Cervus nippon) on Mageshima Island in southern Japan despite their widespread distribution. This study aimed to provide an initial account of the observations of osteophagia in sika deer from central Japan. One of the 15 camera traps deployed in the Hakone Nature Forest of Tamagawa University for wildlife monitoring serendipitously captured multiple instances of adult female sika deer gnawing on a four-tined antler on July 9th and 16th in 2018. These occurrences coincided with the fawning season of the species during which mineral deficiencies in the diet are prevalent, suggesting that osteophagia serves as a response to nutrient deficiencies in the diet of sika deer in central Japan. Thus, systematic surveys may yield additional evidence of this behavior in sika deer across diverse geographical areas given the absence of studies on osteophagia in sika deer conducted in other regions. Digital video images related to the article are available at http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo240508cn01a. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Extreme ecosystem modification by humans has caused drastic reductions in populations and ranges of top mammalian predators, while simultaneously allowing synanthropic mesopredator species to expand. These conditions often result in inflated local densities of highly adaptable mesopredators that disrupt trophic dynamics and place unsustainable predation pressure on native prey populations. Colonization of a dominant predator may lead to top-down control of mesopredators and restore trophic balance. Coyotes are a novel colonizer of some coastal barrier islands of eastern North America, offering an opportunity to test how the addition of an apex predator impacts an established guild of mesopredators. To assess their trophic impact, we conducted 75,576 camera trapping hours over an 18-month study period, capturing > 1.5 million images across 108 coastal camera sites. Using two-species occupancy and habitat use models, we found sizeable effects of coyote habitat use on that of red foxes and free-ranging domestic cats, suggesting that coyotes function as apex predators in barrier island ecosystems. In fact, the only factor that determined the spatial pattern of highly ubiquitous red foxes was the sympatric habitat use of the largest carnivore in the food web—coyotes. That ‘novel’ apex predators can become established in coastal food webs illustrates the highly dynamic nature of conservation challenges for habitats and species at the edge of the sea.

Abstract Site occupancy models (SOMs) are a common tool for studying the spatial ecology of wildlife. When observational data are collected using passive monitoring field methods, including camera traps or autonomous recorders, detections of animals may be temporally autocorrelated, leading to biased estimates and incorrectly quantified uncertainty. We presently lack clear guidance for understanding and mitigating the consequences of temporal autocorrelation when estimating occupancy models with camera trap data. We use simulations to explore when and how autocorrelation gives rise to biased or overconfident estimates of occupancy. We explore the impact of sampling design and biological conditions on model performance in the presence of autocorrelation, investigate the usefulness of several techniques for identifying and mitigating bias and compare performance of the SOM to a model that explicitly estimates autocorrelation. We also conduct a case study using detections of 22 North American mammals. We show that a join count goodness‐of‐fit test previously proposed for identifying clustered detections is effective for detecting autocorrelation across a range of conditions. We find that strong bias occurs in the estimated occupancy intercept when survey durations are short and detection rates are low. We provide a reference table for assessing the degree of bias to be expected under all conditions. We further find that discretizing data with larger windows decreases the magnitude of bias introduced by autocorrelation. In our case study, we find that detections of most species are autocorrelated and demonstrate how larger detection windows might mitigate the resulting bias. Our findings suggest that autocorrelation is likely widespread in camera trap data and that many previous studies of occupancy based on camera trap data may have systematically underestimated occupancy probabilities. Moving forward, we recommend that ecologists estimating occupancy from camera trap data use the join count goodness‐of‐fit test to determine whether autocorrelation is present in their data. If it is, SOMs should use large detection windows to mitigate bias and more accurately quantify uncertainty in occupancy model parameters. Ecologists should not use gaps between detection periods, which are ineffective at mitigating temporal structure in data and discard useful data.

Abstract Camera‐trap surveys are increasingly used to assess species interactions, with a growing focus on proximate co‐occurrence, the conditional probability of one species occurring after another within a given time window. However, existing time‐to‐first‐event models, commonly employed for this purpose, suffer from multiple limitations. For instance, they cannot fully quantify the interaction strength, that is how strongly one species affects the occurrence probability of another, nor the duration of this effect, nor identify the directionality of the interaction. We propose reframing the question in terms of recurrent event analysis, which enables the use of a rich set of techniques to provide more information about the data‐generating process. In particular, we use the piece‐wise exponential additive mixed model (PAMM) to take into account all available information (including recurrent occurrences of species) and to estimate the non‐linear temporal dynamics of the visitation rate of a species after the occurrence of another. As the estimation is performed within the framework of generalized additive models, it offers a rich, robust and established inferential toolbox. We evaluated PAMM's performance in estimating species interactions through a simulation study involving two species under various scenarios of attraction or repulsion, with and without imperfect detection. Additionally, we compared the PAMM to six time‐to‐first‐event methods commonly used in camera‐trap studies and illustrated its application with real data. PAMMs outperformed the other methods in terms of statistical power, output interpretability and ability to disentangle interactions. The robust performance of PAMMs underscores their potential as a valuable tool for studying species interactions based on camera‐trap data. To facilitate its adoption, we present the new package ctrecurrent and provide a reproducible workflow from data preparation to model fitting.

Surveys targeting flagship species frequently record the presence of other species, providing valuable bycatch data to fill knowledge gaps on the ecology of overlooked species. Using bycatch records from camera-trap surveys for the tiger Panthera tigris, we model occupancy of the sun bear Helarctos malayanus, predict its temporal change in occupancy during 2015–2019 and determine its activity patterns in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sumatra, Indonesia. We performed single-season occupancy modelling that considered unequal detection probability from sun bear detection/non-detection records. We found that the sun bear occupancy in the Intensive Protection Zone (i.e. the priority protection area) of the National Park was slightly higher than in the north of the National Park. In the Intensive Protection Zone, sun bear occupancy was estimated to be 0.67 in 2015 and increased to 0.83 in 2019, but this increase was not substantial. The sun bear exhibited a cathemeral activity pattern. Most activity occurred during the day (46.2%), followed by night (21.2%), dusk (20.9%) and dawn (11.7%). We encourage collaboration amongst institutions conducting camera-trap studies in Sumatra to examine the ecology of other threatened yet overlooked species, to assess the broader biodiversity benefits of flagship species conservation and to strengthen science-based conservation efforts.

The Fingui white-toothed shrew Crocidura fingui, categorized as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List, is endemic to Príncipe Island, Central Africa. It is currently known from < 10 sites and its ecology and any threats are largely unknown. We review its distribution and ecology, and any potential threats, based on camera-trap data, field observations and previously published and unpublished sightings. Crocidura fingui appears to have an island-wide distribution and to use a range of ecosystems, from native forests to urban areas. It is largely nocturnal and exhibits considerable spatiotemporal overlap with introduced mammals such as the African civet Civettictis civetta, domestic cat Felis catus and rats Rattus spp. The species has an area of occupancy < 500 km2 and is known from fewer than five locations, and its population is inferred to be affected by several introduced mammals. We recommend that it is recategorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Conservation monitoring is paramount for the gathering of information on species and populations in need of conservation actions. However, monitoring of the mountain bongo Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci, a Critically Endangered antelope endemic to Kenya, has hitherto been limited to surveillance (i.e. focused on persistence of the species in particular areas), thus limiting the information that could be retrieved on the status and trends of these populations. Using a newly developed identification system, we implemented robust design mark–recapture using existing camera-trap records of four wild subpopulations of the bongo. We provide data on sex and age structure and the first estimates of population size in the wild. Males and calves seem to be suffering higher mortality than females, and only two of the four monitored populations include adults of both sexes and calves. The combined size of these two breeding populations is estimated to be 29–50. Our findings confirm the critical situation of the mountain bongo in the wild and highlight the need for conservation actions to reinforce the wild populations for the long-term conservation of this antelope.

Abstract Although considered an evolutionary force responsible for shaping ecosystems and biodiversity, fires’ natural cycle is being altered by human activities, increasing the odds of destructive megafire events. Here, we show that forest type modulates the responses of terrestrial mammals, from species to assemblage level, to a catastrophic megafire in the Brazilian Pantanal. We unraveled that mammalian richness was higher 1 year after fire passage compared to a pre-fire condition, which can be attributed to habitat modification caused by wildfires, attracting herbivores and open-area tolerant species. We observed changes in assemblage composition between burned/unburned sites, but no difference in mammalian richness or relative abundance. However, by partitioning the effects of burned area proportion per forest type (monospecific vs. polyspecific), we detected differential responses of mammals at several levels of organization, with pronounced declines in species richness and relative abundance in monospecific forests. Eighty-six percent of the species presented moderate to strong negative effects on their relative abundance, with an overall strong negative effect for the entire assemblage. Wildfires are predicted to be more frequent with climate and land use change, and if events analogous to Pantanal-2020 become recurrent, they might trigger regional beta diversity change, benefitting open-area tolerant species.

Simple Summary: In human-dominated areas where top predators no longer occur, interactions among medium-sized predators can be complex, especially when considering how they share space and time based on seasonal changes in food and habitat. We studied this using camera traps placed in various habitats from February 2021 to July 2023, at Fort De Soto County Park, a barrier island complex located in west central Florida. Three species of mammals (coyotes, raccoons, and Virginia opossums) were the most frequently photographed. Our analysis showed that during the wet season, these species were most likely to be photographed in similar habitats and times. During the dry season, when perhaps there were fewer food sources, the species shifted when they were active in a manner that created less overlap. Also in the dry season, opossums made more use of mangrove habitats. Understanding the relationships among these species is important because this area supports nesting shorebirds and sea turtles, known prey for these predators. Due to lack of apex predators in human-dominated landscapes, mesopredator relationships are complex and spatiotemporal niche partitioning strategies can vary, especially when seasonal shifts in resource availability occur. Our objective was to understand spatiotemporal niche overlap across seasons among mesopredators inhabiting a barrier island complex. We placed 19 unbaited cameras throughout Fort De Soto County Park, Florida, USA between February 2021 and July 2023. Of six mesopredator species detected, three species had >75 detections during both the wet and dry seasons (coyote, Canis latrans; Virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana; and raccoon, Procyon lotor). Using general linear mixed models, we determined that during the wet season coyote–raccoon and raccoon–opossum detections were positively associated with each other (p < 0.05). During the dry season, raccoon–opossum detections were positively associated, and opossums were more likely to be detected around mangroves. After calculating coefficients of overlap, we found all three species varied their temporal activity between seasons. During the dry season exclusively, all three mesopredators occupied different temporal niches. The park's isolated but developed nature has potentially led to a destabilized mesopredator community. Understanding seasonal mesopredator dynamics of Fort De Soto is particularly important because this park supports a high number of nesting shorebirds and sea turtles, which are known food sources for mesopredators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding subnivean life is crucial, particularly due to the major role in food webs played by small animals inhabiting this poorly known habitat. However, challenges such as remoteness and prolonged, harsh winters in the Arctic have hampered our understanding of subnivean ecology in this region. To address this problem, we present an improved autonomous, low-power system for monitoring small mammals under the snow in the Arctic. It comprises a compact camera paired with a single-board computer for video acquisition, a low-power-microcontroller-based circuit to regulate video acquisition timing, and motion detection circuits. We also introduce a novel low-power method of gathering complementary information on animal activities using passive infrared sensors. Meticulously designed to withstand extreme cold, prolonged operation periods, and the limited energy provided by batteries, the system's efficacy is demonstrated through laboratory tests and field trials in the Canadian Arctic. Notably, our system achieves a standby power consumption of approximately 60 µW, representing a seventy-fold reduction compared to previous equipment. The system recorded unique videos of animal life under the snow in the High Arctic. This system equips ecologists with enhanced capabilities to study subnivean life in the Arctic, potentially providing insights to address longstanding questions in ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferation of forest edges and invasive predators have been identified as two primary threats to carnivore populations globally. These threats often occur in unison, facilitated by anthropogenic activities (e.g., fragmentation), and together may pose a greater influence than when they occur separately. Targeted conservation actions for forest carnivores, including Madagascar carnivores, have been hindered by a failure to understand the relative contributions of these factors in driving species declines. To fill this gap, we conducted an extensive camera survey along the edge of intact, continuous protected rainforests in eastern Madagascar to evaluate the extent invasive predators and forest edge separately and in combination affect native carnivore space use. We hypothesized that structural vegetation changes at the forest edge interact with invasive predator trap success and occurrence to reduce native carnivore space use near the forest edge and separately have less influence than when combined. In contrast to findings in fragmented and degraded forests of Madagascar, we found hard forest edge and invasive predators alone do not indiscriminately reduce native carnivore space use in continuous intact forest. Instead, we found free‐roaming dogs and cats interact with their surrounding environment (i.e., forest edge) in unique ways that shape species response differently than within interior forest. At the forest edge, vegetational changes of increasing shrub cover and the occurrence of dogs reduce space use of three of four native carnivores. However, we found greater effects of proximity to villages, especially with high invasive predator activity (free‐roaming cats). Ultimately, native carnivores showed variable sensitivities to pressures we examined, providing support for species‐specific management actions to maximize conservation outcomes. We encourage future studies to consider evaluating the magnitude of separate and combined threats to carnivores. In doing so, conservationists can better identify when threats can be managed in isolation and when they require simultaneous mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species distribution and activity patterns vary across regions, and these patterns reveal key information about the biology of a given species. However, such data in Niubeiliang National Nature Reserve located in the Qinling Mountains, Shaanxi Province, China, are inadequate due to limited monitoring studies. From September 2017 to December 2019, 57 infrared cameras were installed to monitor species distribution relative to distance from National Highway 210, and spatial and temporal activity patterns in Niubeiliang National Nature Reserve (elevation range 1,100 to 2,802 m). Sixteen species of mammals were recorded in our survey. The 4 most frequently detected species were Reeves's Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi), Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), Pere David's Rock Squirrel (Sciurotamias davidianus), and Golden Takin (Budorcas taxicolor bedfordi). Daily patterns of these species indicated that Reeves's muntjacs and golden takins were more active at dawn and dusk, whereas wild boars and Pere David's rock squirrels were more active during the day. The relative abundance index of these mammals varied seasonally. Wild boars and Pere David's rock squirrels showed no obvious preference in elevation distribution, Reeves's muntjacs preferred low-elevation habitats (1,300 to 1,600 m), and golden takins mainly inhabited high-elevation areas (1,900 to 2,100 m). Golden takins showed obvious avoidance of roads, with avoidance distance from the road of >300 m. In contrast, Reeves's muntjacs were remarkably abundant within 200 m of the road. For both wild boars and Pere David's rock squirrels, there was no significant difference in RAI among 5 highway ranges. These findings help describe the distribution and activity patterns of these species in Qinling, to monitor their population dynamics, and to develop tailored conservation strategies for the 4 species and sympatric wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In primates, mixed species associations are not common occurrences, and have been linked to both ecological and anthropogenic factors. We present camera‐trapping records of a mixed association between two primates, the Hatinh langur (Trachypithecus hatinhensis) and red‐shanked douc (Pygathrix nemaeus) and discuss possible hypotheses for this occurrence. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of such an association in the wild of these two threatened primates, and thus contributes to our limited ecological knowledge of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of domestic animals in the wilderness has a negative effect on wildlife populationsor; for instance, in addition to habitat loss, urbanization, and coastal light pollution, sea turtles also suffer from another threat: the predation of their eggs, hatchlings, and even female nesters by domestic, feral, and/or wild animals. Domestic dogs are a considerable concern for turtles in nesting areas, due to their free-ranging lifestyle and the absence of predators. This study sought to evaluate the nest density and rates of sea turtle predation caused mainly by canids: foxes (native predator) and dogs (introduced predator) in the nesting areas of Southern Bahia, Brazil. Predation data was collected during field surveys and by using camera traps and hair traps installed in nests. During the sampling period, an average of 46 nests were laid by three sea turtle species: Caretta caretta, Eretmochelys imbricata, and Lepidochelys olivacea; 46.4% were lost due to predation or inundation caused by the tides. Canine populations on the island have an evident impact on sea turtle nests. Thus, it is crucial to design and implement environmental education programs and management plans with the local community to help reduce human-made and natural loss of nests and safeguard sea turtle populations and their habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major threat to small mammalian carnivore populations is human‐induced land use change, but conservation and management are inhibited by limited knowledge about their ecology and natural history. To fill a key knowledge gap of the western spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis), we investigated their spatial ecology at the landscape and home range scale in the temperate rainforests of the Oregon Cascades during 2017–2019. For the landscape scale analysis, we used detections of western spotted skunks at 112 baited camera traps and fitted a dynamic occupancy model to investigate spatial distribution and drivers of inter‐seasonal and inter‐annual changes in occupancy. Concurrently, we radio‐collared 25 spotted skunks (9 female, 16 male) and collected 1583 relocations. Using continuous‐time movement models, we estimated large home range sizes for both male and female spotted skunks, relative to their body mass, and highly overlapping home ranges that indicated a lack of territoriality. Using these home ranges, we fitted a resource selection function using environmental covariates that we assigned to various hypotheses such as resources, predator avoidance, thermal tolerance, and disturbance. Overall, western spotted skunks were widely distributed across our study area (seasonal occupancy up to 63.7 ± 5.3%) and highly detectable (weekly detection probability = 41.2%). At both spatial scales, spotted skunks selected wetter areas and local valleys, which we attributed to areas with more food resources. At the home range scale, spotted skunks selected locations with lower predation risk and areas surrounded by more previously logged forests. In this montane environment, inter‐seasonal contractions in the spatial distributions of spotted skunks were strongly driven by their response to cold temperature and accumulated snow. This was especially evident when seasonal occupancy declined significantly following a severe heavy snow event in February 2019. Given that there is little information available on the natural history of the western spotted skunk, these results provide essential information about their ecology to focus future monitoring efforts and may help identify potential threats (e.g., forest management, severe snow events, or wildfires) to this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earth's climate is rapidly changing, bringing forth questions of how domestic and wild animals will alter their behaviour in response to increasing temperatures and dryland expansion. Dwindling water availability will likely impact animal behaviour and water foraging, potentially increasing animal aggregations and interspecific contacts. These interspecific contacts are especially important for competition, predation and disease transmission among wildlife and domestic animals. In this study, we analysed interspecific wildlife and cattle contacts using two years of camera trap data at an experimental water manipulation site at a conservancy in central Kenya. We found that on average, the hourly probability of any interspecific contact was approximately 3.4 times higher at water sources versus drained water sources and 18 times higher than surrounding matrix areas, and that this relationship was amplified by dry and hot conditions. Species‐specific analyses revealed variation in the magnitude of responses across wildlife and domestic cattle, although all animals had approximately 2–3 times higher interspecific contact probability with other species at water in hot conditions versus other conditions. Notably, we observed the largest behavioural changes for relatively water‐independent species, such as giraffe, which had 3.6 times higher interspecific contact probability at water sources in hot versus other conditions. Synthesis and applications. These findings show how elevated temperatures that will become increasingly common with future climate changes can increase interspecific contacts around critical water resources. In mixed wildlife‐livestock systems, maintaining wildlife‐only water sources may be a practical management tool to mitigate human‐wildlife conflict and disease transmission at this interface, especially during dry and hot conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammal species globally exhibit distribution patterns conditioned by environmental conditions and human impact. The Mediterranean basin provides an ideal system to study these effects due to its diverse climate, and habitat conditions. In this work, we aim to assess the impact of landscape heterogeneity and anthropization degree on terrestrial mammal diversity in this region. Accordingly, we deployed over 300 camera traps across 28 sites for 3 months. Detected mammal species (weighing more than 1kg) were classified as domestic carnivores, domestic ungulates, wild carnivores, wild ungulates, lagomorphs, and large rodents. Alpha and beta diversity were calculated for each group and all wild mammals. Simple linear regressions and multimodal analysis were conducted between mammal diversities and climate, environmental conditions, landscape heterogeneity, and anthropization degree variables. Redundancy analyses were performed to identify variables and species determining the mammalian community composition. Indexes measuring landscape heterogeneity, anthropization degree, and its 30‐year change did not correlate with mammal diversity. However, the difference in elevation within sites and domestic carnivore abundance showed a significant positive correlation with some of the diversity indexes. Nonetheless, rainfall and mean elevation factors generally showed the highest correlation with mammal diversity. Instead, a few influential species, including generalists and open‐habitat specialists, highlighted the importance of conserving open areas, as well as the importance of the Pyrenees region as a key habitat for certain species. Therefore, climatic variables emerged as the key determinants of mammal diversity, highlighting climate change as a potential threat to mammal diversity in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fingui white-toothed shrew Crocidura fingui , categorized as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List, is endemic to Príncipe Island, Central Africa. It is currently known from < 10 sites and its ecology and any threats are largely unknown. We review its distribution and ecology, and any potential threats, based on camera-trap data, field observations and previously published and unpublished sightings. Crocidura fingui appears to have an island-wide distribution and to use a range of ecosystems, from native forests to urban areas. It is largely nocturnal and exhibits considerable spatiotemporal overlap with introduced mammals such as the African civet Civettictis civetta , domestic cat Felis catus and rats Rattus spp. The species has an area of occupancy < 500 km2 and is known from fewer than five locations, and its population is inferred to be affected by several introduced mammals. We recommend that it is recategorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surveys targeting flagship species frequently record the presence of other species, providing valuable bycatch data to fill knowledge gaps on the ecology of overlooked species. Using bycatch records from camera-trap surveys for the tiger Panthera tigris , we model occupancy of the sun bear Helarctos malayanus , predict its temporal change in occupancy during 2015–2019 and determine its activity patterns in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sumatra, Indonesia. We performed single-season occupancy modelling that considered unequal detection probability from sun bear detection/non-detection records. We found that the sun bear occupancy in the Intensive Protection Zone (i.e. the priority protection area) of the National Park was slightly higher than in the north of the National Park. In the Intensive Protection Zone, sun bear occupancy was estimated to be 0.67 in 2015 and increased to 0.83 in 2019, but this increase was not substantial. The sun bear exhibited a cathemeral activity pattern. Most activity occurred during the day (46.2%), followed by night (21.2%), dusk (20.9%) and dawn (11.7%). We encourage collaboration amongst institutions conducting camera-trap studies in Sumatra to examine the ecology of other threatened yet overlooked species, to assess the broader biodiversity benefits of flagship species conservation and to strengthen science-based conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation monitoring is paramount for the gathering of information on species and populations in need of conservation actions. However, monitoring of the mountain bongo Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci , a Critically Endangered antelope endemic to Kenya, has hitherto been limited to surveillance (i.e. focused on persistence of the species in particular areas), thus limiting the information that could be retrieved on the status and trends of these populations. Using a newly developed identification system, we implemented robust design mark–recapture using existing camera-trap records of four wild subpopulations of the bongo. We provide data on sex and age structure and the first estimates of population size in the wild. Males and calves seem to be suffering higher mortality than females, and only two of the four monitored populations include adults of both sexes and calves. The combined size of these two breeding populations is estimated to be 29–50. Our findings confirm the critical situation of the mountain bongo in the wild and highlight the need for conservation actions to reinforce the wild populations for the long-term conservation of this antelope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camera traps have been widely used in wildlife research, offering significant potential for monitoring species interactions at ephemeral resources. However, raw data obtained from camera traps often face limitations due to observation censoring, where resource consumption by dominant animals may obscure potential resource use by less dominant animals. We extended time‐to‐detection occupancy modeling to quantify interspecific consumptive competition and redundancy of ecosystem functions through consumption between two species, while accounting for observation censoring. By treating resource use by rival species as censored data, we estimated the proportion of resources potentially used in the absence of rival species and calculated the loss caused by the rival species, which is defined as "Competition Intensity Index." We also defined the Unique Functional Contribution, which represents the net functional loss when a species is removed, calculated by excluding the contribution potentially substituted by the other species. We also considered resource degradation and computed the quantity of resources acquired by each species. This established framework was applied to predation data on bird nests by alien squirrels and other predators (Case 1) as well as scavenging on mammalian carcasses by two carnivores (Case 2). In Case 1, the introduction of squirrels significantly affected the breeding success of birds. Although nests were being preyed upon by native crows also, our model estimated that Unique Functional Contribution by the squirrels was 0.47. This means that, by eradicating the squirrels, the reproductive success of the birds could potentially increase by as much as 47%. In Case 2, the Competition Intensity Index for foxes was 0.17, whereas that for raccoon dogs was 0.46, suggesting an asymmetric effect of resource competition between the two species. The frequency distribution of wet mass available to the two species differed significantly. This approach will enable a more robust construction of resource–consumer interaction networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dholes (Cuon alpinus) are endangered large carnivores found in scattered populations in Asia. One of the main threats to dholes is the decreasing prey availability throughout their distribution range. In the present study, we used camera trap data collected over 6 years to investigate the temporal activity patterns of dholes and their putative prey species in Baluran National Park in Java, Indonesia. We also explored the overlap in activity between dholes and the park's other remaining large carnivore the Javan leopard (Panthera pardus melas), as well as humans. Furthermore, we investigated potential differences in activity patterns between dholes in packs and dholes roaming in pairs or alone. We found a high temporal overlap between dholes and their wild ungulate prey species (ranging from Δ = 0.66–0.90), with the lowest overlap observed between dholes and bantengs (Bos javanicus) (Δ = 0.66), and the highest between dholes and muntjacs (Muntiacus muntjak) (Δ = 0.90). A very low overlap was found between dholes and domestic cattle (Bos indicus) (Δ = 0.27) whereas a moderately high overlap was found between dholes and leopards (Δ = 0.70) and dholes and humans (Δ = 0.62). We found a significant difference in activity patterns between dholes in packs and dholes roaming alone or in pairs (Δ = 0.78, p =.01). Single/pairs of dholes were more active both during the day and at night, whereas packs were predominantly active around sunrise and sunset. The high overlap with humans potentially has a negative effect on dhole activity, particularly for dispersing individuals, and the low overlap with domestic species questions the extent to which dholes are considered to predate on them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weasels (genus Mustela and Neogale) are of management concern as declining native species in some regions and invasive species in others. Regardless of the need to conserve or remove weasels, there is increasingly a need to use non‐invasive monitoring methods to assess population trends.We conducted a literature review and held the first ever International Weasel Monitoring Symposium to synthesise information on historical and current non‐invasive monitoring techniques for weasels. We also explored current limitations, opportunities, and areas of development to guide future research and long‐term monitoring.Our literature search revealed that in the past 20 years, camera traps were the most commonly used non‐invasive monitoring method (62% of studies), followed by track plates or scent stations designed to collect footprints (23%) and walking transects for tracks in snow or soil (8.7%).Experts agreed that the most promising non‐invasive monitoring techniques available include use of citizen scientist reporting, detection dogs, detecting tracks, non‐invasive genetic surveys, and enclosed or unenclosed camera trap systems. Because each technique has benefits and limitations, using a multi‐method approach is likely required.There is a need for strong commitment to dedicated monitoring that is replicated over space and time such that trend data can be ascertained to better inform future management action. The diversity of non‐invasive monitoring methods now available makes such monitoring possible with relatively minor commitments of funding and effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Carpentarian Pseudantechinus (Pseudantechinus mimulus, Dasyuridae) is a little‐known, saxicolous dasyurid marsupial from the Mount Isa Inlier bioregion in Queensland (QLD) and the Gulf Coastal bioregion in the Northern Territory (NT), Australia. A paucity of targeted survey effort across broad swathes of potentially suitable habitat means that the species' distribution and habitat associations are uncertain. This study aimed to (1) refine the contemporary distribution of P. mimulus, (2) determine the landscape and floristic variables that may predict P. mimulus presence, and (3) assess the current conservation status of P. mimulus. We conducted camera trap surveys covering 631 camera stations at 227 independent sites over 4 years for a total of 28 767 trap‐nights throughout QLD and NT in known and predicted suitable habitat. Stepwise generalized linear models were used to test the effect of landscape and floristic predictors on P. mimulus presence. The species' contemporary distribution was assessed using a MAXENT species distribution model. We collated a database of 292 records of P. mimulus, including 111 recorded during this study, extending the species' known range in QLD. The proposed holotype location of the Mittiebah Range was surveyed twice during this study but P. mimulus was not recorded. Pseudantechinus mimulus had the highest probability of presence on most non‐northerly aspects on metamorphic landforms. Eleven plant taxa had a significant effect on P. mimulus presence. This study provides new evidence for landscape and floristic factors that help predict the presence of P. mimulus. Our results indicate the possibility of two disjunct populations, but large swathes of potential habitat still require additional effort to determine the species' true distribution. Our estimate for area of occupancy partially satisfies a threatened species listing; however, more focused research on population dynamics, trends in habitat quality, and landscape‐scale threats is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Site occupancy models (SOMs) are a common tool for studying the spatial ecology of wildlife. When observational data are collected using passive monitoring field methods, including camera traps or autonomous recorders, detections of animals may be temporally autocorrelated, leading to biased estimates and incorrectly quantified uncertainty. We presently lack clear guidance for understanding and mitigating the consequences of temporal autocorrelation when estimating occupancy models with camera trap data.We use simulations to explore when and how autocorrelation gives rise to biased or overconfident estimates of occupancy. We explore the impact of sampling design and biological conditions on model performance in the presence of autocorrelation, investigate the usefulness of several techniques for identifying and mitigating bias and compare performance of the SOM to a model that explicitly estimates autocorrelation. We also conduct a case study using detections of 22 North American mammals.We show that a join count goodness‐of‐fit test previously proposed for identifying clustered detections is effective for detecting autocorrelation across a range of conditions. We find that strong bias occurs in the estimated occupancy intercept when survey durations are short and detection rates are low. We provide a reference table for assessing the degree of bias to be expected under all conditions. We further find that discretizing data with larger windows decreases the magnitude of bias introduced by autocorrelation. In our case study, we find that detections of most species are autocorrelated and demonstrate how larger detection windows might mitigate the resulting bias.Our findings suggest that autocorrelation is likely widespread in camera trap data and that many previous studies of occupancy based on camera trap data may have systematically underestimated occupancy probabilities. Moving forward, we recommend that ecologists estimating occupancy from camera trap data use the join count goodness‐of‐fit test to determine whether autocorrelation is present in their data. If it is, SOMs should use large detection windows to mitigate bias and more accurately quantify uncertainty in occupancy model parameters. Ecologists should not use gaps between detection periods, which are ineffective at mitigating temporal structure in data and discard useful data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camera‐trap surveys are increasingly used to assess species interactions, with a growing focus on proximate co‐occurrence, the conditional probability of one species occurring after another within a given time window. However, existing time‐to‐first‐event models, commonly employed for this purpose, suffer from multiple limitations. For instance, they cannot fully quantify the interaction strength, that is how strongly one species affects the occurrence probability of another, nor the duration of this effect, nor identify the directionality of the interaction.We propose reframing the question in terms of recurrent event analysis, which enables the use of a rich set of techniques to provide more information about the data‐generating process. In particular, we use the piece‐wise exponential additive mixed model (PAMM) to take into account all available information (including recurrent occurrences of species) and to estimate the non‐linear temporal dynamics of the visitation rate of a species after the occurrence of another. As the estimation is performed within the framework of generalized additive models, it offers a rich, robust and established inferential toolbox.We evaluated PAMM's performance in estimating species interactions through a simulation study involving two species under various scenarios of attraction or repulsion, with and without imperfect detection. Additionally, we compared the PAMM to six time‐to‐first‐event methods commonly used in camera‐trap studies and illustrated its application with real data.PAMMs outperformed the other methods in terms of statistical power, output interpretability and ability to disentangle interactions. The robust performance of PAMMs underscores their potential as a valuable tool for studying species interactions based on camera‐trap data. To facilitate its adoption, we present the new package ctrecurrent and provide a reproducible workflow from data preparation to model fitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the use of camera traps for observing small mammals in wildlife ecology research. While camera traps are commonly used for medium-to-large animals, they are rarely used for small cryptic animals like mice or shrews. The article presents the development of a low-cost camera trap called "MouseCam" that provides top-down images of small mammals. The MouseCam system consists of a mini trail camera, modified buckets, and other components. The authors have successfully deployed MouseCams in coastal Virginia, capturing thousands of photos and identifying multiple small mammal species. The article highlights the benefits and limitations of using camera traps for small mammal research and education. [Extracted from the article]

Automated sensors have potential to standardize and expand the monitoring of insects across the globe. As one of the most scalable and fastest developing sensor technologies, we describe a framework for automated, image-based monitoring of nocturnal insects—from sensor development and field deployment to workflows for data processing and publishing. Sensors comprise a light to attract insects, a camera for collecting images and a computer for scheduling, data storage and processing. Metadata is important to describe sampling schedules that balance the capture of relevant ecological information against power and data storage limitations. Large data volumes of images from automated systems necessitate scalable and effective data processing. We describe computer vision approaches for the detection, tracking and classification of insects, including models built from existing aggregations of labelled insect images. Data from automated camera systems necessitate approaches that account for inherent biases. We advocate models that explicitly correct for bias in species occurrence or abundance estimates resulting from the imperfect detection of species or individuals present during sampling occasions. We propose ten priorities towards a step-change in automated monitoring of nocturnal insects, a vital task in the face of rapid biodiversity loss from global threats. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banteng (Bos javanicus) is listed as an endangered species because of a global population decline of at least 50% over the last 25 years. The Western Forest Complex (WEFCOM) of Thailand has been identified as a priority site for banteng population recovery, and Huai Kha Keang Wildlife Sanctuary (HKK) is the most important source site for this species within the WEFCOM. We have provided evidence and discussed banteng dispersal from HKK to Thung Yai Naresuan West Wildlife Sanctuary (TYW). We sampled an area of 147 km2 in banteng habitat next to the border between HKK and TYW using camera traps. We divided the sampled area into four grid cells and placed camera traps during January to December 2022. We setup the camera traps near saltlicks and natural water sources, as important resources for banteng, to maximize capture probability. In total, 2835 trap days were obtained. Bantengs were captured in all seasons (RAI = 1.66), especially in dry dipterocarp forest, which contains the ground forage availability for banteng, and the low‐slope area with elevation 600–700 m adjacent to the border between HKK and TYW. The results highlighted that banteng, which had never been reported in TYW before, appeared there for the first time. They most likely dispersed from the population source in HKK and settled in a habitat that is considered suitable for them. The habitat management and protection are significant for the future recovery of banteng populations in the TYW and the rest of protected areas in the WEFCOM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable maps of species distributions are fundamental for biodiversity research and conservation. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) range maps are widely recognized as authoritative representations of species' geographic limits, yet they might not always align with actual occurrence data. In recent area of habitat (AOH) maps, areas that are not habitat have been removed from IUCN ranges to reduce commission errors, but their concordance with actual species occurrence also remains untested. We tested concordance between occurrences recorded in camera trap surveys and predicted occurrences from the IUCN and AOH maps for 510 medium‐ to large‐bodied mammalian species in 80 camera trap sampling areas. Across all areas, cameras detected only 39% of species expected to occur based on IUCN ranges and AOH maps; 85% of the IUCN only mismatches occurred within 200 km of range edges. Only 4% of species occurrences were detected by cameras outside IUCN ranges. The probability of mismatches between cameras and the IUCN range was significantly higher for smaller‐bodied mammals and habitat specialists in the Neotropics and Indomalaya and in areas with shorter canopy forests. Our findings suggest that range and AOH maps rarely underrepresent areas where species occur, but they may more often overrepresent ranges by including areas where a species may be absent, particularly at range edges. We suggest that combining range maps with data from ground‐based biodiversity sensors, such as camera traps, provides a richer knowledge base for conservation mapping and planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Freshwater ecosystems rank among the most threatened environments on Earth. Monitoring aquatic and semi-aquatic species is vital to informing conservation of freshwater ecosystems. However, many semi-aquatic mammals can be difficult to detect with conventional survey methods. Aims: We aimed to identify the most effective survey method for detecting an Australian semi-aquatic mammal, the rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster). Methods: We compared rakali detection rates among camera-trapping, live-trapping and visual surveys, and tested the influence of camera angle, trap proximity to water and time of survey, across the Yanco Creek system in southern New South Wales. Key results: Nocturnal spotlight surveys were the most effective method for detecting rakali, with most observations occurring while individuals were foraging or swimming in the water. Camera traps facing a floating platform and cage traps mounted on floating platforms performed better than those deployed on land. Downward-facing camera traps detected rakali three times more often than did forward-facing cameras. Trapping rakali was unreliable, with the species detected at fewer than half of the sites where presence was confirmed via visual observation and camera traps. For species absence to be determined with 95% confidence, 2–4 weeks of nightly trapping is required, compared with six nights of visual surveys or 12 nights for a platform-facing camera. Morning visual surveys were largely ineffective because of predominantly nocturnal rakali activity and difficulty in detecting signs in creek environments. Conclusions: The likelihood of detecting rakali can be maximised through the use of nightly spotlighting and deployment of baited camera traps focussed on platforms or natural resting areas within a water body. Implications: Understanding the effectiveness of each method is essential for developing species-appropriate protocols for population monitoring. Our findings present suitable options to be further explored among the 100-plus small (<1 kg) semi-aquatic mammals worldwide that share similar behaviours and characteristics to the rakali, many of which are threatened or data deficient. Cryptic semi-aquatic mammals present a particular challenge to monitor because of their unique lifestyles. We aimed to identify the most effective methods to detect the seldom-studied rakali, a native Australian semi-aquatic mammal; spotlighting and camera traps placed over water provided the greatest detection probabilities. We present a novel method to monitor rakali, which has the potential to improve the detection and conservation of other small semi-aquatic mammals. Photograph by Emmalie Sanders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mast seeding drives large-scale population fluctuations in forest-dwelling animals, including the wild boar Sus scrofa. Many studies of the masting effects on population dynamics of wild boars have been conducted in cool- and warm-temperate forests; however, studies on wild boar populations inhabiting subtropical forests, which have more diverse plant resources than temperate forests, are limited. The mast seeding effects of Castanopsis sieboldii on the reproductive schedule and population fluctuations of wild boars inhabiting the subtropical climate zone of the Ryukyu Islands (Japan) were investigated using 14 years of camera trap data. The reproductive schedule, estimated based on the emergence of piglets, varied in response to masting. The piglet emergence during the January–February period was higher in the years after masting than in the years that followed non-masting events, evidencing that the reproductive season started earlier and lasted longer in the years after masting. The Bayesian state-space model incorporating direct density-dependence and masting effects revealed that the relative population size was negatively affected by the population size of the previous year and positively affected by the previous year’s occurrence of masting. These observations indicate that masting is a critical factor driving population dynamics of wild boars living in subtropical forests and also highlight the importance of mast seeding effects on population fluctuations of wild boars when developing management plans for these animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild boar (Sus scrofa), an abundant species across Europe, is often subjected to management in agro-ecosystems in order to control population size, or to scare them away from agricultural fields to safeguard crop yields. Wild boar management can benefit from a better understanding on changes in its space use across the diel cycle (i.e., diel space use) in relation to variable hunting pressures or other factors. Here, we estimate wild boar diel space use in an agro-ecosystem in central Belgium during four consecutive "growing seasons" (i.e., April–September). To achieve this, we fit generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs) to camera trap data of wild boar aggregated over 1-h periods. Our results reveal that wild boar are predominantly nocturnal in all of the hunting management zones in Meerdaal, with activity peaks around sunrise and sunset. Hunting events in our study area tend to take place around sunrise and sunset, while non-lethal human activities occur during sunlight hours. Our GAMM reveals that wild boar use different areas throughout the diel cycle. During the day, wild boar utilized areas in the centre of the forest, possibly to avoid human activities during daytime. During the night, they foraged near (or in) agricultural fields. A post hoc comparison of space use maps of wild boar in Meerdaal revealed that their diurnal and nocturnal space use were uncorrelated. We did not find sufficient evidence to prove that wild boar spatiotemporally avoid hunters. Finally, our work reveals the potential of GAMMs to model variation in space across 24-h periods from camera trap data, an application that will be useful to address a range of ecological questions. However, to test the robustness of this approach we advise that it should be compared against telemetry-based methods to derive diel space use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cheadle Center at UCSB manages the North Campus Open Space (NCOS), which is a project that has restored 136 acres of upland and wetland habitats that existed before the area was converted into the Ocean Meadows Golf Course in the 1960s. The NCOS restoration project began in 2017 with a fine-scale grading of the site in order to recreate the salt marsh and use the excavated soil to rebuild the upland habitats to the southwest, which are now called the NCOS Mesa. In addition to re-establishing native biodiversity, a key goal of the restoration is to utilize the site as an educational, scientific, and recreational resource. This archived version of the June 2018 newsletter includes updates on guided tours and endowment opportunities. The feature story highlights some of the student research taking place at the open space, such as aquatic invertebrate sampling, soil studies, and camera monitoring of habitat features. Community photos include the endangered Belding’s Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) as well as a Great-Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), and Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) caught on motion detecting cameras.

A persistent lack of juvenile recruitment in populations of the imperiled Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) has been attributed to artificially inflated populations of coyotes (Canis latrans) and common ravens (Corvus corax) in some areas. Subsidized by resources in the form of road-killed prey, movement corridors, or nesting perches provided by ever-expanding road and powerline networks, these “subsidized predators” threaten tortoises and other species thanks to subsidies that help support their populations in areas where they might otherwise have been less abundant. Here, we quantified the risk of predation from these subsidized predators on juvenile Mojave desert tortoises by quantifying attack rates on 3D-printed replicas. We evaluated predation risk as a function of replica size, distance from powerlines, and season—variables that can inform release strategies of head-started and translocated tortoises. We found significantly greater risk of predation from ravens in the spring than in the fall. Replica size did not significantly influence predation risk from ravens or coyotes. Replica distance from a powerline or road also did not significantly influence predation risk, supporting previous studies that have found the risk of predation can persist for up to 1.6 km from raven nesting structures. Our results support recommendations for releasing juvenile head-started and translocated tortoises in the fall and away from areas close to raven nesting structures. Our study provides insight into the interactions of prey and subsidized predators and helps guide management on potential mitigation strategies for minimizing the impacts of subsidized predators on species like the imperiled Mojave desert tortoise.