Aspects of statistical bias due to the forest edge: fixed-area circular plots
A procedure is presented to eliminate edge-effect statistical bias for fixed-area circular plots when sampling forest areas. For known forest populations, the exact mean of the unbiased (adjusted for edge effect) and biased (unadjusted for edge effect) estimates of a forest characteristic can be determined along with the exact bias. Edge-effect bias is investigated for three forests that vary in area, four plot sizes, and three forest characteristics. Exact and estimated results based on 5000 random points were compared. Edge-effect bias increases with plot area and varies with forest size, spatial distribution of trees, percentage of edge trees, and forest characteristic. The variance of the biased estimator was always smaller than the variance of the unbiased estimator. Using mean square errors, the biased estimator was found to be more accurate and the distortion of probability statements caused by the bias negligible for moderate sample sizes and small-plot areas.