-The most efficient sampling technique was Random sampling at just over 12 hours, while the other sampling methods were both just over 13 hours.
-Each sampling method seems to have different advantages and is more accurate in different ways. For example, the Systematic sampling along a transect was generally most accurate, but completely left out the rarest species (as if they don’t exist). Comparatively, results were most accurate for species with higher abundance. The percent-error was quite high all around for the rarest species. Compared to the true densities, all three sampling methods show critical errors. Many more samples (10 times as many?) are likely required with each method to provide more accurate results.
-Two most common species (true density): Eastern Hemlock (T=469.9), Sweet Birch (T=117.5)
-Two rarest species (true density): White Pine (T=8.4), Striped Maple (T=17.5)
[% error = E – T / T * 100]
% error for Systematic Sampling:
-Eastern Hemlock: 403.8 → 14.07%
-Sweet Birch: 69.2 → 41.11%
-White Pine: 0 → 100%
-Striped Maple: 15.4 → 12%
% error for Random Sampling:
-Eastern Hemlock: 378.3 → 19.49%
-Sweet Birch: 91.3 → 22.3%
-White Pine: 13 → 54.76%
-Striped Maple: 8.7 → 50.29%
% error for Haphazard Sampling:
-Eastern Hemlock: 480 → 2.15%
-Sweet Birch:140 → 19.15%
-White Pine: 20 → 138.1%
-Striped Maple: 12 → 31.43%