Ideas in this flowchart

• Sampling natural resource systems
• These systems are often too large, numerous, or complex to measure completely.
• Researchers use a smaller sample to characterize the whole system.
• A random sample is generally preferred.
• Random sampling reduces the risk of systematic bias.
• Larger samples require more time and effort.
• Larger samples provide diminishing returns.
• Sampling methods must be evaluated for how well they represent the population or system of interest.