The objective of this research is to develop and extend the theory and methods of adaptive sampling, with particular attention to problems of estimation of abundance of a natural resource. Such designs are particularly applicable to clumped or aggregated distributions as are often found in sampling plants, animals, fossile fuel resources; they may be equally promising for certain problems in epidemiology. Properties of adaptive sampling designs will be derived; and comparisons of efficiency will be made with conventional designs currently in widespread use.
