Context: Determining the most efficient detection method for a target species is key for successful wildlife monitoring and management. Driven transects and sign surveys are commonly used to monitor populations of the endangered numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus). Camera trapping is being explored as a new method. These methods were unevaluated for efficacy and cost for numbat detection.

Aims: To compare efficacy and costing of driven transects, sign surveys and camera trapping for detecting numbats in the Upper Warren region, Western Australia.

Methods: Seven repeat sign surveys and driven transects, as well as 4 months of camera trapping, were conducted concurrently at 50 sites along three transects. Numbat detection rates and costing of the three techniques were compared, and detection probabilities were compared between sign surveys and camera trapping.

Key results: Numbat signs were detected during 88 surveys at 39 sites, exceeding camera trapping (26 detections at 13 sites) and driven transects (seven detections near five sites). The estimated probability for detecting a numbat or a sign thereof (at a site where numbats were present) ranged from 0.21 to 0.35 for a sign survey, and 0.02 to 0.06 for 7 days of camera trapping. Total survey costs were lowest for driven transects, followed by camera trapping and sign surveys. When expressed as cost per numbat detection, sign surveys were cheapest.

Conclusions: Comparative studies of survey methods are essential for optimal, cost-effective wildlife monitoring. Sign surveys were more successful and cost effective than camera trapping or driven transects for detecting numbats in the Upper Warren region. Together with occupancy modelling, sign surveys are appropriate to investigate changes in occupancy rates over time, which could serve as a metric for long-term numbat monitoring.

Implications: There is no ‘best’ method for wildlife surveys. Case-specific comparison of animal detection methods is recommended to ensure optimal methods. For the numbat population in the Upper Warren region, further studies are needed to improve numbat detection rates from camera trapping, and to test sign surveys in autumn (March to May), when surviving juvenile numbats have established their own territory and assumptions regarding population closure are less likely to be violated.

背景：确定目标物种最有效的检测方法是成功进行野生动植物监测和管理的关键。驱动横断面和符号调查通常用于监视濒临灭绝的食蚁兽（Myrmecobius fasciatus）的种群。相机陷印正被探索为一种新方法。尚未评估这些方法的麻点检出功效和成本。

目的：比较西澳州上沃伦地区的驱动横断面，符号调查和照相机诱捕来检测麻点，以比较其功效和成本。

方法：沿着三个样条线同时在50个地点同时进行了七个重复的标志勘测和驱动样条线以及4个月的相机诱捕。比较了这三种技术的Numbat检测率和成本，并比较了符号调查和相机诱捕之间的检测概率。

关键结果：在39个地点进行的88次调查中，检测到Numbat信号，超过了相机陷井（13个地点的26个检测结果）和驱动横断面（五个地点附近的7个检测结果）的数量。在进行手兆调查时，检测到一个食指或其标志（在有食指的地方）的估计概率范围为0.21至0.35，对于相机捕获7天的概率为0.02至0.06。驱动样带的总调查成本最低，其次是摄像机诱捕和标志调查。当以每位分子检测的成本表示时，符号调查是最便宜的。

结论：调查方法的比较研究对于最佳，经济高效的野生动植物监测至关重要。相比于在上沃伦地区探测麻点的摄像头捕获或驱动横断面，手语调查更为成功且更具成本效益。与占用率建模一起使用，符号调查适合调查占用率随时间的变化，这可以用作长期麻木监视的指标。

启示：野生生物调查没有“最佳”方法。建议根据具体情况对动物检测方法进行比较，以确保采用最佳方法。对于上沃伦地区的食蚁兽种群，需要进行进一步的研究，以提高相机捕捉的食蚁兽检出率，并在秋季（3月至5月）对尚存的少年食蚁兽建立自己的领土和有关人口封闭的假设进行测试，以检查其秋天的体征。被侵犯的可能性较小。