We applied sampling scenarios to a computer modeled environ- ment to evaluate the influence of sampling-unit size and number on accuracy and precision of point-count population estimates. A virtual environment consisting of a 10 × 10 matrix was created to assess the influence of sampling-unit size and the number of sam- ple units on the accuracy and precision of population estimates derived from the point-count method. In our simulations, the total area sampled remained constant among the sample scenarios eval- uated (i.e., a total of 24 cells sampled of the 100 available), but scenarios ranged from few samples of large area to many samples of small area.
In addition to the number and unit size of the samples, we also examined how true abundance (density) and distribution of indi- viduals influenced accuracy and precision of population estimates. Individual treatments of true abundance and distribution of indi- viduals were assessed simultaneously with sampling scenarios. All possible combinations of sample scenario, true abundance, and dis- tribution of individuals were evaluated.