Sparse sampling: Spatial design for monitoring stream networks

TL;DR

This paper reviews various approaches to designing sparse spatial sampling strategies for monitoring complex stream networks, aiming to inform better decision-making for future ecological monitoring efforts.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review of existing methods for sparse spatial design in stream network monitoring, highlighting best practices and challenges.

Findings

Identifies key factors influencing spatial design choices.

Summarizes existing approaches and their applicability.

Highlights gaps and future directions in stream network monitoring.

Abstract

Spatial designs for monitoring stream networks, especially ephemeral systems, are typically non-standard, `sparse' and can be very complex, reflecting the complexity of the ecosystem being monitored, the scale of the population, and the competing multiple monitoring objectives. The main purpose of this paper is to present a review of approaches to spatial design to enable informed decisions to be made about developing practical and optimal spatial designs for future monitoring of streams.