Wildlife By The Numbers Episode 4 Determining appropriate sample sizes to balance accuracy, precision, and resource allocation in wildlife studies

In this episode of Wildlife by the Numbers, Grant, Matt, and Randy, delve into the importance of proper sample size in wildlife studies. They emphasize that an adequate sample size is crucial for obtaining accurate and precise data, which directly impacts the reliability of conservation efforts. Sample size ensures representativeness and precision, critical for drawing valid conclusions about wildlife populations.

Matt explains that without a reasonable sample size, it is impossible to obtain a representative sample, leading to inaccurate estimations. The conversation touches on how over- or under-sampling can lead to either wasted resources or insufficient data, respectively. Randy discusses the challenges in achieving desired precision in various wildlife surveys, such as those involving fish in reservoirs, where spatial variability can complicate sampling.

Overall, this episode underscores the necessity of determining appropriate sample sizes to balance accuracy, precision, and resource allocation in wildlife studies, ensuring that conservation and management strategies are based on robust scientific data.

Episode Quotes:

"...the two issues that are intertwined in in sample size. One is representativeness, which we've talked about already,

and then the other is precision. Basically, how good is my estimate of that mean?"

"So as a wildlife biologist, getting the right sample size is important because it'll also help you get good results. And it also makes sure that the effort you put out is commensurate with the with the precision of the results you want. So you're not under sampling and spending a

lot of money and time and not getting a precise answer, and you're not oversampling by spending a lot of money and time and getting a really tight answer that you really don't need."

"...but I do know what they're aiming for. And, typically, they partition it based on whether or not it's gonna be a management or a research question. With the research question aiming for a CV of ten to fifteen percent and then a management based question, a CV of twenty to twenty five percent is is acceptable."

Episode music: Shapeshifter by Mr Smith is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/mr-smith/studio-city/shapeshifter/