Date of Award

8-1-1981

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Dr. Richard Stasiak

Abstract

Introduction: Spatial pattern is of significance to many aspects of ecological investigations, so that ecologist are concerned both with the structure and dynamics of a population, as well as population distribution in space. With the exception of very small bodies of water, most aquatic habitats present the ecologist with unique and difficult sampling problems (UNESCO, 1968). He does not have direct access to the organisms of his study and thus cannot make direct observations on their reaction to his surface operated sampling gear. Because of this, striking a balance between the adequacy and the cost of the sampling methods becomes somewhat of a problem. The problem is intensified when in the design of a sampling program, the investigator must consider the spatial distribution of the population, with regards to minimizing errors due to sampling areas not representative of the population or to taking too few a number of samples to adequately describe a spatially variable population.

Comments

A Thesis Presented to the Department of Biology and the Faculty of the Graduate College University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts University of Nebraska at Omaha. Copyright 1981 Douglas B. Wondrasek.

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