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The virtual forest tutorial utilized three sampling strategies;
(1) Haphazard Sampling,
– Uses samples that are most readily available, usually not random
(2) Systematic Sampling,
– Uses samples from a larger population, random starting point with fixed pattern
and (3) Random Sampling
– Chosen randomly, allows for equal opportunity
The most time efficient sampling from fastest to slowest are Haphazard Sampling, Systematic Sampling and then Random Sampling. Accuracy of the sampling was dependent on what was being examined. For example Systematic Sampling was most accurate when studying the two most common tree species. Whereas Haphazard worked best for the rarest species. Overall the Haphazard Sampling was most effective for this tutorial.
