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<br /> <br /> <br />25 meter (80ft.) transect lines were segmented into 5 meter (16 ft.) <br />intervals. Data were collected for each 5 meter (16 ft.) interval. <br /> <br />Points along the 25 meter (80 ft.) transect were read at 5 cm (2 in.) <br />intervals to determine the composition of bare ground, rock, persis- <br />tent and non-persistent litter, and live vegetation by species. <br /> <br />2 X 5 decimeter (8 x 20 in.) quadrats were evaluated at 2.5 meter (8 <br />ft.) intervals along each transect line to determine the composition <br />of bare ground, rock, persistent and non-persistent litter, and live <br />vegetation by species. <br /> <br />After collection of the field data, each community type was analyzed to deter- <br />mine species composition and canopy coverage. Community types were identified <br />on the basis of dominant species. Voucher specimens were collected and dried, <br />and photographs taken of each community type; A community type map was pre- <br />pared on an aerial photograph base with a scale of13 cm/km (8 inches per <br />mile ). <br /> <br /> 1. <br />~. 2. <br />CJ.) <br />0) <br />.- <br /> 3. <br /> <br />Eleven plant communities were recognized within the study area. The low <br />species numbers and diversity are partially a result of the time of sampling <br />which was accomplished during the month of July. The 11 plant communities are <br />distributed from 1555 m (5,100 ft.) near the Bookc1iffs to 1370 m (4,500 ft.) <br />along the lower drainages. Along the elevationa1 gradient, extreme erosion <br />has been the predominant factor, influencing soils and vegetation. Some of <br />the plant communities exist in a complex mosaic while others are much more <br />discrete. <br /> <br />Abbrevi ated plant community descri pti ons foll ow: <br /> <br />1. Atrip1ex corrugata - greater than 10% canopy coverage. <br /> <br />This community is found predominantly on low shale pediments and <br />alluvial basins of nearly level terrain with intermittent areas of <br />thin mud flow deposits. The only species recorded in this community <br />was ~~ri ~l. ex corrugata whi ch compri se 14.6% canopy coverage. West <br />and ra 1m (1968) described an Atrip1ex corrugata community having <br />great vari abi 1 ity in soil s. They found si gnlf1 cant di fferences <br />between sites as to exchangeable sodium percentage, thicknesses of . <br />horizons, saturati on extract conducti vi ty, and soil texture. <br /> <br />2. Atrip1ex corrugata -less than 10% canopy coverage. <br /> <br />The community occurs on low shale pediments, dissected shale uplands <br />and side slopes adjacent to Atrip1ex corrugata community with greater <br />than 10% coverage. This.communityis poorly developed with Atriplex <br />corrugata comprising 6.7% coverage and Sphaera1cea grossu1ariifo1ia <br />being present in trace amounts on microsites with relatively h1gher <br />moisture availability. <br /> <br />14 <br />