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<br />Data on species composition, cover and dominance will be <br />obtained from a field sampling program. In each plant <br />community type, shrub and tree canopy cover will be measured <br />using the line intercept method. Herbaceous cover, by <br />species, will be estimated using 0.1 m2 plot frames. <br /> <br />Species-area curves will be developed to ensure adequate <br />sampling in each community type. Sampling will be done in <br />conjunction with the Habitat Evaluation Subtask (15d). The <br />slope and aspect of each sampling area will be noted as well <br />as any other physiographic features. Soils will be identified <br />using soil surveys. <br /> <br />The potential response of a given plant community to <br />disturbance will be estimated by reviewing literature on plant <br />succession in the Cache la Poudre area and consulting local <br />vegetation experts. Successional trends will be determined or <br />veri fi ed by i dentifyi ng and compari ng a number of "pa tches" of <br />a given plant community on aerial photographs over time. <br />Additional information will be obtained from old photographs, <br />long-time residents or local historians. <br /> <br />A literature review, field data and expert consultation will <br />be used to evaluate the relative importance of a given plant <br />community type according to the following criteria: unique <br />species composition; sensitivity to disturbance; importance as <br />critical habitat for a threatened or endangered species; <br />importance as wildlife habitat; occurrence of species of <br />special concern; or unusual regional or local occurrence. <br /> <br />OUTPUT: <br /> <br />The results of this subtask will be used to determine the net <br />effects of the Cache la Poudre project on plant communities. The <br />Task 12 report will include a description of the species <br />composition, dominance and cover of each project area plant <br /> <br />6168a <br /> <br />12-3 <br />