DOI: 10.25338/b8802q
title: Data from: Zooming in on mechanistic predator-prey ecology: integrating camera traps with experimental methods to reveal the drivers of ecological interactions

description: 1. Camera trap technology has galvanized the study of predator-prey
 ecology in wild animal communities by expanding the scale and diversity of
 predator-prey interactions that can be analyzed. While observational data
 from systematic camera arrays have informed inferences on the
 spatiotemporal outcomes of predator-prey interactions, the capacity for
 observational studies to identify mechanistic drivers of species
 interactions is limited. 2. Experimental study designs that utilize camera
 traps uniquely allow for testing hypothesized mechanisms that drive
 predator and prey behavior, incorporating environmental realism not
 possible in the lab while benefiting from the distinct capacity of camera
 traps to generate large data sets from multiple species with minimal
 observer interference. However, such pairings of camera traps with
 experimental methods remain underutilized. 3. We review recent advances in
 the experimental application of camera traps to investigate fundamental
 mechanisms underlying predator-prey ecology and present a conceptual guide
 for designing experimental camera trap studies. 4. Only 9% of camera trap
 studies on predator-prey ecology in our review mention experimental
 methods, but the application of experimental approaches is increasing. To
 illustrate the utility of camera trap-based experiments using a case
 study, we propose a study design that integrates observational and
 experimental techniques to test a perennial question in predator-prey
 ecology: how prey balance foraging and safety, as formalized by the risk
 allocation hypothesis. We discuss applications of camera trap-based
 experiments to evaluate the diversity of anthropogenic influences on
 wildlife communities globally. Finally, we review challenges to conducting
 experimental camera trap studies. 5. Experimental camera trap studies have
 already begun to play an important role in understanding the predator-prey
 ecology of free-living animals, and such methods will become increasingly
 critical to quantifying drivers of community interactions in a rapidly
 changing world. We recommend increased application of experimental methods
 in the study of predator and prey responses to humans, synanthropic and
 invasive species, and other anthropogenic disturbances.
description: An increasing
 number of predator-prey studies are using camera traps in their
 methodological approach, but few do so with an experimental study design.
 This dataset examines evidence for observational and experimental
 approaches in predator-prey studies which include camera trap data. For
 studies with an experimental component, this dataset also includes details
 about the research focus, predator and prey species, and experimental
 treatment used.  Search methodology To determine the temporal trends and spatial distribution of the use of experimental camera trap methods in predator-prey ecology, we used the following search terms: "camera trap" OR "remote camera" OR "trail camera" OR "camera traps" OR "remote cameras" OR "trail cameras" AND predator* OR prey AND experiment* To determine the temporal trends and spatial distribution of the use of observational camera trap methods in predator-prey ecology, we used the following search terms: "camera trap" OR "remote camera" OR "trail camera" OR "camera traps" OR "remote cameras" OR "trail cameras" AND predator* OR prey AND abundance OR activity OR density OR occupancy NOT experiment* Paper validation Once all papers had been assembled, each was reviewed to examine if it contained a study of predator-prey interactions that was tested using camera traps. Only papers that met these criteria remained in the review. The papers in the experimental search were also checked to examine if the experiment used directly included camera trap data. The papers in the observational search were scored for their use of camera traps to measure abundance, activity, density, occupancy, or other observation approach to explicitly study an aspect of predator-prey interactions. We recorded the location where each study was conducted to map geographic trends in Fig. 1.