In the virtual tutorial I choose is Snyder-Middleswarth Natural Area. 25 plots are sampled for each technique.
Among three sampling techniques,
Haphazard: 13h 1min
Random: 13h 4min
Systematic: 12h 37min
Systematic sampling had the fastest estimated sampling time.
2 most common species are Eastern Hemlock and Sweet Birch, percentage errors are calculated below:
| Haphazard | Random | Systematic | |
| Eastern Hemlock | (432-469.9)/469.9*100%= 8.1% | (396-469.9)/469.9*100%= 15.7% | (456-469.9)/469.9*100%= 3.0% |
| Sweet Birch | (116-117.5)/117.5*100%= 1.3% | (108-117.5)/117.5*100%= 8.1% | (120-117.5)/117.5*100%= 2.1% |
2 rarest species are White Pine and Striped Maple, percentage errors are calculated below:
| Haphazard | Random | Systematic | |
| White Pine | (16-8.4)/8.4*100%= 90.5% | (8-8.4)/8.4*100%= 4.8% | (12-8.4)/8.4*100%= 42.9% |
| Striped Maple | (28-17.5)/17.5*100%= 60% | (28-17.5)/17.5*100%= 60% | (56-17.5)/17.5*100%= 220% |
According to the results calculated from the above data, we know that the rarer the species, the less accurate its accuracy will be.
In the most common species, the systematic strategy is the most accurate. In the rarest species, the random strategy is the most accurate.
more that the rarer species are harder to detect overall
some big errors with striped maple!
if you were sampling striped maple in the field, where might you be expected to find it?