These results are based on the Sampling Theory Using Virtual Forests Tutorial. The fastest sampling strategy was systematic, followed by haphazard and then random. In all three sampling strategies, the accuracy increased with the species abundance. There were only two percentage errors under 5%, those being the systematic and random sampling for the most common species. For the two most common species, the systematic sampling had the lowest percentage errors. For the two rarest species, the haphazard sampling had the lowest percentage errors, but was still much higher than the 5% cutoff. The systematic sampling strategy showed the most accurate readings for common species, but due to its high percentage error for rare species, the haphazard sampling strategy gave the most accurate overall estimates.
Percentage Errors:
Eastern Hemlock (Most Common):
- Systematic: 1.47%
- Random: 2.02%
- Haphazard: 7.66%
Sweet Birch (2nd Most Common):
- Systematic: 5.11%
- Random: 41.96%
- Haphazard: 34.55%
Striped Maple (2nd Rarest):
- Systematic: 100%
- Random: 94.86%
- Haphazard: 20.57%
White Pine (Rarest):
- Systematic: 145.24%
- Random: 204.76%
- Haphazard: 100%