Abstract
In many applications of line intersect sampling, transects consist of multiple, connected segments in a prescribed configuration. The relationship between the transect configuration and the selection probability of a population element is illustrated and a consistent sampling protocol, applicable to populations composed of arbitrarily shaped elements, is proposed. It is shown that this protocol obviates the arbitrary practice of treating multiple intersections of a single particle as independent probabilistic events and preserves the design-unbiasedness of Kaiser’s (1983, Biometrics 39, 965–976) conditional and unconditional estimators, suitably generalized to segmented transect designs. The relative efficiency and utility of segmented transect designs are also discussed from a fixed population perspective.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
L. Barabesi L. Fattorini (1998) ArticleTitleThe use of replicated plot, line and point sampling for estimating species abundance and ecological diversity Environmental and Ecological Statistics 5 353–70 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1009655821836
R.H. Canfield (1941) ArticleTitleApplication of the line interception method in sampling range vegetation Journal of Forestry 39 388–94
C.M. Cassel C.E. Särndal J.H. Wretman (1977) Foundations of Inference in Survey Sampling Wiley New York
G.P. Delisle P.M. Woodward S.J. Titus A.F. Johnson (1988) ArticleTitleSample size and variability of fuel weight estimates in natural stands of lodgepole pine Canadian Journal of Forest Research 18 649–52
DeVries, P.G. (1973) A general theory on line intersect sampling with application to logging residue inventory. Mededelingen Landbouwhogeschool 73-11, Wageningen, The Netherlands
P.G. DeVries (1979) Line intersect sampling statistical theory, applications, and suggestions for extended use in ecological inventory R. Cormack G. Patil D. Robson (Eds) Sampling Biological Populations International Co-operative Publishing House Fairland, MD 1–70
L.L. Eberhardt (1978) ArticleTitleTransect methods for population studies Journal of Wildlife Management 42 1–31
T.G. Gregoire (1982) ArticleTitleThe unbiasedness of the mirage correction procedure for boundary overlap Forest Science 28 504–8
T.G. Gregoire N.S. Monkevich (1994) ArticleTitleThe reflection method of line intercept sampling to eliminate boundary bias Environmental and Ecological Statistics 1 219–26 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00571393
T.G. Gregoire H.T. Valentine (2003) ArticleTitleLine intersect sampling: Ell-shaped transects and multiple intersections Environmental and Ecological Statistics 10 263–79 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1023698813989 Occurrence HandleMR1982490
L. Kaiser (1983) ArticleTitleUnbiased estimation in line-intercept sampling Biometrics 39 965–76
M.G. Kendall P.A.P. Moran (1963) Geometrical Probability Hafner New York
Marshall, P.L., Davis G., and LeMay, V.M. (2000) Using line intersect sampling for coarse woody debris. Technical Report TR-003, Research Section, Vancouver Forest Region, B.C. Ministry of Forests
G.A. McIntyre (1953) ArticleTitleEstimation of plant density using line transects Journal of Ecology 41 320–30
McRae, D.J., Alexander, M.E., and Stocks, B.J. (1979) Measurement and description of fuels and fire behavior on prescribed burns: a handbook, Information Report O-X-287, Canadian Forestry Service, Great Lakes Forest Research Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, ON.
O’Brien, R.A. (1989) Comparison of overstory canopy cover estimates on forest survey plots. Research Paper INT-417, USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT.
A. Ringvall G. Ståhl (1999) ArticleTitleField aspects of line intersect sampling for assessing coarse woody debris Forest Ecology and Management 119 163–70 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0378-1127(98)00521-0
Runkle, J.R. (1992) Guidelines and sample protocol for sampling forest gaps. General Technical Report PNW-GTR-283, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR.
C.E. Särndal B. Swensson J.H. Wretman (1992) Model Assisted Survey Sampling Springer-Verlag New York
J. Stewart (1995) Multivariable Calculus EditionNumber3 Brooks/Cole Pacific Grove, CA
H.T. Valentine J.H. Gove T.G. Gregoire (2001) ArticleTitleMonte Carlo approaches to sampling forested tracts with lines or points Canadian Journal of Forest Research 31 1410–24 Occurrence Handle10.1139/cjfr-31-8-1410
C.E. Van Wagner (1968) ArticleTitleThe line intersect method in forest fuel sampling Forest Science 14 20–6
Waddell, K.L. (2002) Sampling coarse woody debris for multiple attributes in extensive resource inventories. Ecological Indicators, 1, 139–153
W.G. Warren P.F. Olsen (1964) ArticleTitleA line intersect technique for assessing logging waste Forest Science 10 267–76
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Affleck, D., Gregoire, T. & Valentine, H. Design unbiased estimation in line intersect sampling using segmented transects. Environ Ecol Stat 12, 139–154 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10651-005-1038-1
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10651-005-1038-1