Statistical inference on accumulation curves for inventorying forest diversity: a design-based critical look

Statistical inference on accumulation curves is considered from a design-based perspective. Preliminaries on probabilistic sampling of plants and species are given, emphasizing the fundamental role of independent replications of the sampling scheme. The role of rarefaction curves as a tool for making inference on the effectiveness of the sampling procedures to compile accurate species lists is outlined. Design-based and model-based inference are discussed and compared. Some future developments for design-based inference are considered.