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In the virtual forest tutorial I used three different sampling techniques. All samples were collected using area mapping. The first was systematic sampling along a transect, the second was systematic sampling using random quadrant points and the third was haphazard sampling. Twenty-four samples were collected in each sampling.
Systematic sampling along the transect was the most efficient method and used the last amount of time. Densities were commonly higher than the actual densities; with transect sampling being the most accurate.
Transect sampling had the lowest percentage error for common and uncommon tree types. Haphazard sampling had the greatest error for uncommon tree types and random sampling had the greatest error for common tree types.
Twenty-four samples appears to be enough for transect sampling but not for the other two sampling methods.
