An overview of spatial sampling procedures and experimental design of spatial studies for ecosystem comparisons

Comparison of ecosystems and land use studies often require the use of non-classical statistics. This paper describes modem ways of approaching optimal sampling for ecological and environmental purposes. The first part of the paper deals with a description of different sampling procedures. A distinction is made between sampling surveys, optimal grid spacing and adaptive sampling. The second part of the manuscript uses a simulated example to illustrate the different sampling procedures. The third part contains an actual field study where various constraints were met that had to be incorporated in the lay out of the sampling scheme. Optimal statistical sampling procedures can be implemented and utilized to collect maximum information from limited resources. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.