Beechwood forests in East Central Europe are being threatened by dynamic changes in land ownership and economic upheaval. The current status of the beech tree species in this area was evaluated by Hungarian university professors in Applied Ecology and Environmental Research (Vol. 1, 2003). Of 188 beech trees surveyed, 49 of the trees had been damaged by fungi. Depending on the species of fungi, damage will occur either on the trunk, branches, or leaves of the tree. In the damaged trees, the trunk was affected 85% of the time, the leaves 10% of the time, and the branches 5% of the time.
a. Give a reasonable estimate of the probability of a beech tree in East Central Europe being damaged by fungi.
b. A fungi-damaged beech tree is selected and the area (trunk, leaf, or branch) affected is observed. List the sample points for this experiment and assign a reasonable probability to each sample point.