Sampling Strategies

Snyder-Middleswarth Natural Area

Comparison of results:

Fastest Sampling strategy : Area, Random or systematic (12 hr, 5 mins)

Percentage Error: Area, Random or systematic (Quadrat (x+10,y+10))

Eastern Hemlock = (469.9-487.5)/487.5 = 3.6% (most accurate common species)

Sweet Birch = (117.5-100)/100 = 17.5% (least accurate common species)

Yellow Birch = (108.9-95.8)/95.8 = 13.7%

Chestnut Oak = (87.5-62.5)/62.5 = 40%

Red Maple = (118.9-108.3)/108.3 = 9.8%

Striped maple = (17.5-45.8)/45.8 = 61.8% (least accurate rare species)

White Pine = (8.4-20.8)/20.8 = 59.6% (most accurate rare species)

Accuracy declined for rare species

Percentage Error: Area, Random or systematic (random specified quadrants) (13 hr, 12 mins)

Eastern Hemlock = (469.9-404)/ 404= 16.3% (least accurate common species)

Sweet Birch = (117.5-116)/116 = 1.3% (most accurate common species)

Yellow Birch = (108.9-100)/100 = 8.9%

Chestnut Oak = (87.5-84)/84 = 4.2%

Red Maple = (118.9-148)/148 = 19.7%

Striped maple = (17.5-64)/64 = 72.7% (least accurate rare species)

White Pine = (8.4-0)/0 = 0% (most accurate rare species)

Accuracy increased for rare species

The White Pine percentage error makes me think there weren’t enough sample plots

Percentage Error: Area, haphazard (completely random selection) (12 hr, 25 mins)

Eastern Hemlock = (469.9-533.3)/533.3 = 11.9% (most accurate common species)

Sweet Birch = (117.5-104.2)/104.2 = 12.7% (least accurate common species)

Yellow Birch = (108.9-137.5)/137.5 = 20.8%

Chestnut Oak = (87.5-50)/50 = 75%

Red Maple = (118.9-79.2)/79.2 = 50%

Striped maple = (17.5-20.8)/20.8 = 15.9% (most accurate rare species)

White Pine = (8.4-4.2)/4.2 = 100% (least accurate rare species)

Accuracy declined for rare species

Sorry it is cut into two images, I couldn’t capture the graph all in one image on my screen