The technique with the fastest sampling time was the systematic technique with a time of 12 hours and 37 minutes. The other techniques are only slower by about 5 minutes.
the percent error for the techniques:
Systematic:
Eastern Hemlock = 23.2%
Sweet Birch = 22.4%
Yellow Birch = 29.6%
Chestnut Oak = 45.8%
Red Maple = 19.7%
Striped Maple = 27.1%
White Pine = 5%
Random:
Eastern Hemlock = 6.4%
Sweet Birch = 17.1%
Yellow Birch = 53.8%
Chestnut Oak = 34.4%
Red Maple = 26.8%
Stripped Maple = 30%
White Pine = 100%
Haphazard:
Eastern Hemlock = 9.6%
Sweet Birch = 2.1%
Yellow Birch = 36.1%
Chestnut Oak = 12.5%
Red Maple = 48.6%
There was a big difference in the accuracy of more abundant species compared to the rare ones. The more abundant a species was in the sampled location the lower it’s percent error was which makes sense if you were able to collect more data on the species.
I think that it depends on what you are studying to determine which sampling technique to use. They each have their pros and cons so you would have to use the one that is more beneficial to your research and study. But if you are studying common species systematic is probably the technique to use and if you are studying rare species, haphazard would be an acceptable choice.
Rare species are harder for sure!