The magnitude of the trade-off between accuracy and precision of estimates was influenced by the true abundance of individ- uals. The trade-off between accuracy and precision of estimates was greatest for high abundance populations (1000 individuals) and least for low abundance populations (100 individuals). The abundance pattern appeared consistent across all combinations of treatments evaluated.
Similar results were produced for both distribution of individ- uals treatments (Fig. 2 [uniform distribution]; Fig. 3 [clustered distribution]). The maximum difference between median standard- ized difference from true abundance of a uniform distribution treatment compared to a clustered distribution treatment from any sampling scenario and density of individuals was 0.03 (mean ± SE = 0.01 ± 0.00; n = 70). The maximum difference between median standardized 95% confidence-interval widths of a uniform distribution treatment compared to a clustered distribution treat- ment from any sample scenario and density of individuals was 0.42 (mean±SE=0.14±0.01; n=70). Distribution of individuals had minimal influence on the accuracy and precision of estimates generated by modeled sample scenarios, given the similarity of results generated by random and clustered treatments.