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Blog Post 4: Sampling Strategies
I sampled the Snyder-Middleswarth Natural area using area-based systematic, random, and haphazard methods. The technique with the fastest sampling time was the area-based systematic approach with a sampling time of 12 hours, 5 minutes, while random and haphazard techniques had sampling times of 12 hours 34 minutes, and 12 hours 36 minutes, respectively. The least abundant species showed the most accuracy in results, White Pine had a 0% error for two different methods, random and haphazard sampling strategies. In general, the area-based random sampling technique was the most accurate for each species. Area based systematic sampling showed the least accuracy in results. Below is a list of percent error for the two most rare species, Red Maple and White Pine, as well as the most common, Eastern Hemlock and Sweet Birch, for each sampling strategy.
Area Based Systematic:
Eastern Hemlock-45.4%
Sweet Birch-20.6%
Red Maple-82.5%
White Pine-50.0%
Area Based Random:
Eastern Hemlock-9.1%
Sweet Birch-6.38%
Red Maple-1.85%
White Pine-0%
Area Based Haphzard:
Eastern Hemlock-25.0%
Sweet Birch-6.38%
Red Maple-22.6%
White Pine-0%
