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In the virtual forest tutorial presented in the module 3 tutorial I chose Mohn Mill forest. The tree sampling techniques I used were Area: Sampling along a topographic gradient, Random sampling and Haphazard or subjective sampling. Sampling along a topographic gradient appears to be the fastest one a and took 12 hours, 36 minutes and Random sampling was the slowest and took 13 hours, 10 minutes. Even though, the time spent on sampling was almost equal Haphazard technique had shown significantly lower percent error for the most common species.
Species Technique used Estimated Actual Percent error
Red maple Systematic sampling 420 403.74 4.04%
Random 416 403.74 3.05%
Haphazard 404 403.74 0.075%
Which hazel Systematic sampling 140 142.4 1.7%
Random 76 142.4 45.2%
Haphazard 149 142.4 4.7%
Systematic technique appears to have the most precise data for the rarest species.
Species Technique used Estimated Actual Percent error
Downy Systematic sampling 8 9.9 19.2%
juneberry Random 20 9.9 102%
Haphazard 4 9.9 59%
Black Tupelo Systematic sampling 24 35 31.4%
Random 26.9 35 23.14%
Haphazard 60 35 71.4%
