Camera trap research in Africa: A systematic review to show trends in wildlife monitoring and its value as a research tool

Abstract

Camera traps have been used increasingly as a research tool to monitor wildlife globally, and have become more advanced, thereby improving their performance and lowering costs. Their use has allowed researchers to study a range of species, including rare and elusive species, particularly in remote areas, in a non-invasive, reliable and cost-effective way. In this review, we sought to document the camera trapping research on terrestrial wildlife conducted in Africa, identifying countries and habitat types of focus, and how these camera trap research trends in Africa could be improved in the future. Through a systematic literature search, we found 408 peer-reviewed publications using camera traps to study terrestrial wildlife in Africa, with the first being in 2005 and up to 2021. Although camera trap studies were conducted in 38 African countries, most were in South Africa (28.9 %). Most studies assessed the occupancy of species (41.4 %). The studies covered a range of taxa, with mammals being the most popular. The majority of research focussed on large carnivores (24.8 %), with a particular focus on leopards (Panthera pardus) (60 studies). Most studies (43.9 %) focused on a single species, with forests (174 studies, 42.6 %) and savannah/bushveld (145 studies, 35.5 %) being the habitat type of focus. There was also a strong preference for camera trap studies to be conducted in protected areas (68.9 %). The camera trap methods used varied considerably between studies, which included: the number of camera trap stations, survey length, trap effort, camera trap make and model, camera trap flash type, interval delay, camera multishot, height of camera trap placement, camera trap layout method and whether the camera trap was baited. These variations are expected because of the difference in research goals posed by each study. However, studies with similar objectives and/or focus still display a clear lack of standardisation (studies do not conform to a specific standard), which could negatively impact the results obtained, as inappropriate camera trap protocols could affect the detectability of certain species. Future camera trap studies will hopefully extend to countries and taxa that have received little attention, with further research informing appropriate conservation strategies that could reduce the threats to biodiversity.