2.1.2.1 Dichotomous key for selecting appropriate spatial design

By answering the following questions, you will be guided to the most appropriate spatial design category for your monitoring program. 

A graphical depiction of the decision process created by these questions is shown below:

Enlarge Image

Q1: Will the target population be fully and adequately assessed by monitoring at only one site?

Yes   No

Q2: Can the field sampling protocols be implemented at all of the potential sites in the universe of inference?

Yes   No

Q3: Will you conduct field sampling at all of the potential sites throughout the study area? 

Yes   No

Q4: Is there information that will allow the development of models from which acceptable predictions can be made of the indicator status at sites that are not visited?

Yes   No

Q5: Is there monitoring at existing sites that were chosen opportunistically?

Yes   No

Q6: Should the current monitoring design continue?

Yes   No

Q7: Will substantially more sites be added?

Yes   No

Q8: Is there information that will allow the development of models from which acceptable predictions can be made of the indicator status at sites that are not visited?

Yes   No

Q9: Can a list be constructed of all feasible sample sites?

Yes   No

 Q10: Will all the feasible sites be sampled?

Yes   No

Q11: Is there information that will allow the development of models from which acceptable predictions can be made of the indicator status at sites that are not visited?

Yes   No

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