Sampling Vegetation Attributes - Natural Resources Conservation ...

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STUDY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS Wiegert (1962), summarized in Krebs (1989:67-72), gives a quantitative method for determining optimal quadrat size and/or shape. The method considers the costs involved in locating and measuring quadrats and the standard deviation (or its square, the variance) that results from samples of that size and shape. Refer to Krebs’ book for details (and an example). c Sequential <strong>Sampling</strong> The estimate of the standard deviation derived through pilot sampling is one of the values used to calculate sample size, whether one uses the formulas given in Technical Reference, Measuring & Monitoring Plant Populations, or uses a computer program. When conducting the pilot sampling, employ sequential sampling. Sequential sampling helps determine whether the examiner has taken a large enough pilot sample to properly evaluate different sampling designs and/or to use the standard deviation from the pilot sample to calculate sample size. The process is accomplished as follows: Gather pilot sampling data using some arbitrarily selected sample size. Calculate the average and standard deviation for the first two quadrats, calculate it again after putting in the next quadrat value, and continue these iterative calculations after the addition of each quadrat value to the sample. This will generate a running average and standard deviation. Look at the four columns of numbers on the right of Figure 5 for an example of how to carry out this procedure. Plot on graph paper (or use a computer program) the sample size versus the average and standard deviation. Look for curves smoothing out. In the example shown in Figure 5, the curves smooth out after n = 30-35. The decision to stop sampling is a subjective one. There are no hard and fast rules. A computer is valuable for creating sequential sampling graphs. Spreadsheet programs such as Lotus 1-2-3 allow for entering the data in a form that can later be analyzed while at the same time creating a sequential sampling graph of the running average and standard deviation. This further allows the examiner to look at several random sequences of the data before deciding on the number of sampling units to measure. Use the sequential sampling method to determine what sample size not to use (don’t use a sample size below the point where the running average and standard deviation have not stabilized). Plug the final average and standard deviation information into the appropriate sample size equation to actually determine the necessary sample size. 19
4 3.5 3 2.5 20 5 STUDY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS 10 Example of a sequential sampling graph 15 20 25 30 Sample size Figure 5. Example of a sequential sampling graph. The running average and standard deviation are plotted for sample sizes of n=5 up to n=50. <strong>Sampling</strong> was conducted in an area of 50 m x 100 m with a quadrat size of 1 m x 5 m. Actual values are shown on the right. 35 40 Average 45 SD 50 N 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Plants 1 2 0 9 5 7 1 0 8 1 0 0 4 4 2 0 4 0 7 5 3 1 9 7 1 1 8 7 2 9 1 9 6 7 6 1 6 3 1 1 9 3 3 1 7 3 4 9 4 0 Average 1.00 1.50 1.00 3.00 3.40 4.00 3.57 3.13 3.67 3.40 3.09 2.83 2.92 3.00 2.93 2.75 2.82 2.67 2.89 3.00 3.00 2.91 3.17 3.33 3.24 3.15 3.33 3.46 3.41 3.60 3.52 3.69 3.76 3.85 3.91 3.83 3.89 3.87 3.79 3.73 3.85 3.83 3.81 3.75 3.82 3.80 3.81 3.92 3.92 3.84 9. Sample size determination An adequate sample is vital to the success of any monitoring effort. Adequacy relates to the ability of the observer to evaluate whether the management objective has been achieved. It makes little sense, for example, to set a management objective of increasing the density of a rare plant species by 20 percent when the monitoring design and sample size is unlikely to detect changes in density of less than 50 percent. The question of sample size determination is addressed in much more detail in Technical Reference, Measuring & Monitoring Plant Populations. Formulas for calculating sample sizes are given in the Technical Reference, Planning for Monitoring. Because these formulas are rather unwieldy, you may choose to use a computer program. There are several microcomputer programs that will calculate sample size, most of which are available for reasonable cost. Examples are the programs DESIGN (by SYSTAT), EXSAMPLE, N, Nsurv, PASS, and SOLO Power Analysis. Goldstein (1989) reviews 13 different computer programs that can calculate sample sizes. STPLAN Version 4.0, a DOS-based program SD 0.00 0.50 0.79 3.52 3.15 3.12 3.04 3.05 3.24 3.16 3.15 3.12 3.01 2.90 2.81 2.80 2.73 2.73 2.82 2.78 2.71 2.68 2.90 2.94 2.91 2.88 2.97 3.00 2.95 3.07 3.05 3.15 3.13 3.13 3.10 3.09 3.07 3.03 3.03 3.02 3.09 3.06 3.02 3.02 3.02 2.99 2.96 3.02 2.99 3.00
Page 1 and 2: SAMPLING VEGETATION ATTRIBUTES INTE
Page 3 and 4: TABLE OF CONTENTS SAMPLING VEGETATI
Page 5 and 6: TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page 7 and 8: I. PREFACE PREFACE The intent of th
Page 9 and 10: 2 INTRODUCTION values when individu
Page 11 and 12: 4 INTRODUCTION represent the “pul
Page 13 and 14: 6 INTRODUCTION G. Coordination Moni
Page 15 and 16: 8 STUDY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS A. Plan
Page 17 and 18: 10 STUDY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS Macrop
Page 19 and 20: 12 STUDY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS Becaus
Page 21 and 22: 14 STUDY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS d From
Page 23 and 24: 16 STUDY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS b Cove
Page 25: 18 STUDY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS sideoa
Page 29 and 30: 22 STUDY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS C. Oth
Page 31 and 32: 24 ATTRIBUTES Frequency is the numb
Page 33 and 34: 26 ATTRIBUTES 2. Advantages and Lim
Page 35 and 36: 28 ATTRIBUTES b Standing crop and p
Page 37 and 38: 30 ATTRIBUTES
Page 39 and 40: 32 METHODS—Photographs c Angle ir
Page 41 and 42: METHODS—Photographs Hinge Rod sta
Page 43 and 44: METHODS—Photographs angle iron st
Page 45 and 46: 38 METHODS—Frequency • One tran
Page 47 and 48: 40 METHODS—Frequency transected,
Page 49 and 50: 42 METHODS—Frequency (3) Total fr
Page 51: Page of Frequency 44 Study Number D
Page 55 and 56: METHODS—Frequency The frame is ma
Page 57 and 58: 50 METHODS—Dry Weight Rank C. Dry
Page 59 and 60: 52 METHODS—Dry Weight Rank After
Page 62 and 63: D. Daubenmire Method METHODS—Daub
Page 64 and 65: METHODS—Daubenmire b Ten Cover Cl
Page 66: Page of Daubenmire Study Number Dat
Page 70 and 71: 50 cm Six Cover Class Frame 20 cm R
Page 72 and 73: METHODS—Line Intercept b Pilot St
Page 74 and 75: METHODS—Line Intercept Hanley, Th
Page 77 and 78:
70 METHODS—Step Point F. Step-Poi
Page 79 and 80:
72 METHODS—Step Point the boot an
Page 81 and 82:
74 METHODS—Step Point measures AN
Page 85 and 86:
78 METHODS—Point Intercept G. Poi
Page 87 and 88:
80 METHODS—Point Intercept 8. Sam
Page 89 and 90:
82 METHODS—Point Intercept b Tran
Page 91 and 92:
METHODS—Point Intercept Examples
Page 93 and 94:
86 METHODS—Cover Board H. Cover B
Page 95 and 96:
88 METHODS—Cover Board g Study Do
Page 98:
Page of Cover Board Method Profile
Page 101 and 102:
94 METHODS—Density I. Density Met
Page 103 and 104:
96 METHODS—Density (often very mu
Page 105 and 106:
98 METHODS—Density able to make s
Page 107:
Page of Density Study Number Date E
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• Herbage Yield Tables for Trees
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METHODS—Double Weight Sampling (4
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METHODS—Double Weight Sampling d
Page 116:
Page of Production Study Number Dat
Page 119 and 120:
112 METHODS—Harvest K. Harvest Me
Page 121 and 122:
114 METHODS—Harvest 7. Taking Pho
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116 METHODS—Comparative Yield L.
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118 METHODS—Comparative Yield (1)
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120 METHODS—Comparative Yield Tab
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M. Visual Obstruction Method - Robe
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METHODS—Visual Obstruction—Robe
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Sampling Interval Study Location 1
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130 METHODS—Other N. Other Method
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132 GLOSSARY browse: (1) the part o
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134 GLOSSARY grazable woodland: for
Page 143 and 144:
136 GLOSSARY sample: a set of sampl
Page 145 and 146:
138 GLOSSARY
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140 REFERENCES Crocker, R.L. and N.
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142 REFERENCES Hironaka, M. 1985. F
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144 REFERENCES Nie, Norman H., C. H
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146 REFERENCES Society for Range Ma
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148 REFERENCES Whitman, W.C. and E.
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Location 150 APPENDIX A Study Locat
Page 160 and 161:
APPENDIX B APPENDIX B—STUDY AND P
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APPENDIX B 3. Label 3 A placard on
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APPENDIX C Photo Identification Lab
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160 APPENDIX C
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162 APPENDIX D The formula for usin
Page 171:
Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Pub
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