Effective and easy-to-apply monitoring techniques are necessary to detect alien species at their first stage of invasion, allowing rapid removal or delimitation of the invaded range for eradication or control actions. Monitoring tools should be effective in detecting the target species, reduce false absences and allow an early detection. The coypu (Myocastor coypus) is a large semi-aquatic rodent native to subtropical and temperate South America, introduced all over the world for its valuable fur. We tested tracking plates in the framework of a coypu occupancy study to take into account false absences and define a standardized monitoring protocol for the species with a limited engagement of staff. We set 60 linear transects, each with 3 tracking plates, along artificial water bodies within the rice district in northwestern Italy and checked them for six consecutive days. For the analyses, we fitted single-season occupancy models to our detection history data. We detected coypu presence at least once in 29 out of the 60 investigated transects (48%). When modeling occupancy and detection probability constant in time and space, the estimate Ψ was 0.48 and detection probability p was 0.60. A minimum of four consecutive visits to the transects provided reliable detection. Coypu’s probability of presence was significantly driven by the amount of surface covered by rice plantations around the investigated water courses. The proposed method may function as a tool for the rapid detection of coypu on large-scale monitoring projects and in case of new colonization, and as a basis for subsequent prompt control actions.

中文翻译：

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评估足迹平台检测入侵哺乳动物的有效性：以海狸鼠（Myocastor coypus）为例

有效和易于应用的监测技术对于在入侵的第一阶段检测外来物种是必要的，从而能够快速清除或划定入侵范围以进行根除或控制行动。监测工具应能有效地检测目标物种，减少错误缺失并及早发现。海狸鼠（Myocastor coypus）是一种大型半水生啮齿动物，原产于南美洲亚热带和温带地区，因其珍贵的皮毛而被引入世界各地。我们在海狸鼠入住研究的框架内测试了跟踪板，以考虑到错误的缺勤，并为工作人员参与有限的物种定义了标准化的监测协议。我们设置了 60 个线性断面，每个断面有 3 个跟踪板，沿着意大利西北部水稻区的人工水体，连续六天检查它们。为了进行分析，我们将单季入住率模型拟合到我们的检测历史数据中。我们在 60 个调查横断面中的 29 个（48%）中至少检测到一次海狸鼠的存在。在对时间和空间上的占用率和检测概率常数进行建模时，估计 Ψ 为 0.48，检测概率 p 为 0.60。至少连续四次访问横断面提供了可靠的检测。海狸鼠存在的可能性在很大程度上受所调查水道周围水稻种植园覆盖的表面量的影响。所提出的方法可用作在大规模监测项目中快速检测海狸鼠的工具，并在新的殖民化情况下，