Camera traps (CTs) are used for wildlife monitoring globally. How CTs are used in wildlife studies across Africa, however, remains unknown. We provide the first literature review of CT studies conducted across Africa, to describe where, to what end, and by whom CTs are used, and to identify apparent gaps in the use of CTs. We found 172 CT studies published across 60 scientific journals, conducted in 30 of 55 African countries from 2005 to 2017. Most studies were conducted over a single year/season (74%) and primarily addressed habitat use/species distribution (43%), species presence/richness (38.4%), behaviour (35.5%) or demographics (29.7%). Most studies took place in forest (52%), woodland (33%) and grassland (33%) habitat types, and focused on a single species (45.3%). Carnivores were the most commonly studied species group (86%), followed by large herbivores (58%) and primates (38%). Our results suggest that camera trapping is rapidly increasing in use across Africa and potentially driven by country‐based economic factors; however, there is room for improvement. CTs could be expanded in use for studies on underrepresented taxa (i.e. small mammals, reptiles and birds), investigations of human–wildlife conflict and understudied ecoregions (i.e. Sahara Desert).

Most extinctions worldwide have occurred on islands, primarily due to interactions with exotic species, but rarely due to interactions among endemic species. This potential exists on two of the California Channel Islands, Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa, as endemic island spotted skunks (Spilogale gracilis amphiala) appear to have rapidly declined to rarity, possibly due to interference competition with endemic island foxes (Urocyon littoralis). Niche partitioning is expected in response to interference competition; hence, it is surprising that skunks and foxes show extensive overlap in macrohabitat use and circadian activity. However, the role of microhabitat associations and fine-scale temporal activity in facilitating coexistence of the two species has not been explored. We evaluated microhabitat associations of island spotted skunks and island foxes across both islands using data from live traps and wildlife cameras collected during 2015–2017, and we analyzed fine-scale temporal activity using camera data from 2016 and 2017. On both islands, skunks had a positive response to ground-level cover provided by rugged topography or woody vegetation such as shrubs or trees, whereas foxes had a weak or negative response, suggesting partitioning of these microhabitat characteristics. Additionally, on both islands the peak in timing of skunk activity offset the peak for foxes, which implies that skunks use fine-scale adjustments in activity to avoid foxes. Past grazing by exotic herbivores likely reduced habitat refuges for skunks; however, as vegetation on both islands recovers, regrowth of shrubs and trees may provide cover that will improve prospects for coexistence of island spotted skunks and island foxes.

Island spotted skunks (Spilogale gracilis amphiala) are endemic to 2 of the California Channel Islands (CA, USA)-Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa. The status of skunks is uncertain, although incidental captures in traps set for island foxes (Urocyon littoralis) suggest that skunks have declined to low numbers. We superimposed wildlife cameras at fox traps in 2016 and 2017 to provide a second measure of skunk detectability. On both islands, detection rates of skunks with fox traps (0.92/100 operating nights) and with cameras (0.72/100 operating nights) did not differ during summer, indicating the 2 methods are of similar reliability for detecting skunks. In 2017, skunk detections with cameras increased from summer to early winter, suggesting monitoring in winter may improve survey efforts. Low detection rates of island spotted skunks (<1/100 operating nights) were comparable to those of other spotted skunk populations that are considered rare. KEY WORDS California Channel Islands, camera trap, carnivores, island fox, island spotted skunk, Spilogale gracilis amphiala, Urocyon littoralis.

Island spotted skunks (Spilogale gracilis amphiala) are a rare subspecies endemic to the California Channel Islands, currently extant on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa islands. How and when skunks arrived on the islands is unknown, hindering decision-making about their taxonomic status and conservation priority. We investigated these questions by sequencing the complete mitochondrial genomes of 55 skunks from the two islands and mainland (California and Arizona) and examining phylogenetic patterns and estimations of isolation times among populations. Island spotted skunks grouped in a single monophyletic clade distinct from mainland spotted skunks. A haplotype network analysis had the most recent common ancestral haplotype sampled from an individual on Santa Rosa, suggesting both islands were colonized by a single matriline. Additionally, no haplotypes were shared between skunk populations on the two islands. These patterns imply that both island populations were derived from a common ancestral population shortly after establishment and have remained isolated from each other ever since. Together with divergence estimates from three methods, this topology is consistent with colonization of the super-island, Santarosae, by a single ancestral population of spotted skunks in the early Holocene, followed by divergence as the sea level rose and split Santarosae into Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa islands 9,400–9,700 years ago. Such a scenario of colonization could be explained either by rafting or one-time transport by Native Americans. Given their distinct evolutionary history, high levels of endemism, and current population status, island spotted skunks may warrant management as distinct evolutionarily significant units.