Blog Post 4

For this assignment, I used a distance-based method to compare three sample placement techniques (systematic, simple random, haphazard) within the Snyder-Middleswarth natural area. The systematic technique was the most time-efficient strategy at 4 hours 7 minutes, followed by the haphazard technique at 4 hours 24 minutes, and the simple random technique at 4 hours 39 minutes.

The two most common tree species were Eastern Hemlock and Sweet Birch, while the two most rare tree species were Striped Maple and White Pine. The percentage of error for each species is shown in the table below:

Systematic sampling was the most accurate technique for Eastern Hemlock at -9.6%, while haphazard sampling was the most accurate technique for Sweet Birch at 9.6%.  Accuracy substantially decreased as species abundance decreased. Some sampling techniques failed to capture the presence of the rarest species: the simple random technique failed to detect Striped Maple, while the haphazard technique failed to detect White Pine. Detection failure, combined with the remaining data for the rarest species, made systematic sampling the most accurate technique for those species.

For most species, systematic sampling was the most accurate technique. However, when looking at accuracy for individual species, frequency and distribution would also have to be considered when trying to identify the most accurate sampling technique for each.