Sampling strategies

In the virtual forest tutorial , Mohn Mill Natural Area community (area method) was sampled using haphazard, random and systemic sampling. There was 25 quadrats sampled for each. The technique that had the fastest sampling time was the haphazard sampling method (13 hours , 21 minutes ) . The sampling time for systemic was 15 hours , 11 minute whereas random sampling had the slowest sampling time ( 15 hours , 22 minutes). The two most common species in this community were red maple and white oak whereas the two rarest species in this community were black cherry and striped maple. However , the least abundant species might have been missed out as not everything could be sampled.

Sample calculations for percentage error:

Haphazard-

Black tupelo: (44-35.5)/35.5) x 100 =23.94%

Chestnut oak: ((84-82.9)/82.9)x100= 1.33%

Random-

Black tupelo: (37.9-35.5)/35.5) x 100 =6.76%

Chestnut oak: ((106.9-82.9)/82.9)x100= 28.95%

Systemic-

Black tupelo: (58.6-35.5)/35.5) x 100 =65.07%

Chestnut oak: ((100-82.9)/82.9)x100= 20.63%

Based on the percentage error calculations, it seemed like haphazard was the most accurate strategy compared to others. The accuracy is observed to decrease as rare species goes up. In my opinion , more number of sample plots, data and a better sampling strategy could help us  to conclude the accuracy better.