Daphne and Salal

My sampling design reflection aims to discuss the methodology used to investigate the abundance of Daphne and Salal on the Vancouver Island University Campus. Specifically, this reflection will focus on the finding that more Daphne and Salal were observed at higher elevations on the campus.

I faced few minor difficulties in implementing the sampling strategy. One of the main challenges was the topography of the campus, which made it difficult to access some of the higher-elevation areas. Another challenge was identifying the species accurately, as there were other plants that resembled Daphne and Salal in the study area.

I was a little surprised to find that the data collected showed a greater abundance of Daphne and Salal was observed at higher elevations. This contradicted our initial hypothesis, which was that Daphne and Salal would be equally abundant at lower elevations and higher elevations where there was more moisture and shade.

I plan to continue collecting data using the same sampling technique, but I will modify our approach by including more detailed information on the vegetation and feature of these 2 specific plants that made it easier for me to identify them in the sample plots. This will help to ensure accurate identification of the species and reduce the potential for misclassification.

To ensure an adequate sample size from each stratum, a proportional allocation approach was used, where the sample size for each stratum was proportional to the total area covered by that stratum. A total of 20 sample Quadrants were randomly selected from each stratum (High elevation and Low elevation). In each sample Quadrant, the abundance and cover of each species was estimated using a quadrat method.

The pieces and patterns under investigation should also be clearly stated, and the predictor and response variables should be easily measurable in a field setting. Additionally, potential confounding variables should be identified and controlled for in the study design.