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miser var. oblongifolius) had the highest percent cover values of the native perennial forbs (2.3, 2.2, and <br />2.0 percent total vegetation all -hit cover respectively). Native perennial cool season grasses were the <br />third most common life form contributing 9.1 percent total all -hit vegetation cover. Agassiz bluegrass <br />(Poa pratensis ssp. agassizensis) and Montana wheatgrass (Elymus albicans) were the most abundant of <br />this group (1.8 and 1.7 percent total vegetation all -hit cover respectively). <br />Total average vegetation cover, for first hits, was 58.9 percent. Total average vegetation cover, for all <br />hits, was 64.4 percent. Standing dead, litter, bare soil, and rock each had 2.6, 22.0, 16.4, and 0.1 percent <br />cover, respectively (first hits). Average species density was 27.0 species per 100 sq.m. <br />Production <br />(Table 11) <br />Total average production was 786.9 Ibs per acre. Native perennial forbs and native perennial cool season <br />grasses contributed the most with an average production of 456.8 and 167.7 Ibs per acre respectively. <br />Introduced annual and biennial forbs, native annual biennial forbs, and introduced annual grasses were <br />also present, with 74.9, 44.6, and 41.0 Ibs per acre respectively. <br />Shrub Concentration Area Sampling <br />(Table 17) <br />Shrub concentration block BB was sampled in 2013. Total average density of woody plants was 6192 <br />stems per acre. Native shrubs contributed the most with 4889 stems per acre. Of the group, big <br />sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) was the most abundant, with 1315 stems per acre. The second most <br />abundant species were Saskatoon serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia), Gambel's oak (Quercus <br />gambelii), Wood's rose (Rosa woodsii), and golden currant (gibes aureum) with 728, 718, 698, and 678 <br />stems per acre respectively. Mountain snowberry (Symphoricarpos rotundifolius) provided 455 stems per <br />acre. Native trees contributed 1307 stems per acre. Of this, box elder (Acer negundo) and quaking <br />aspen (Populus tremuloides) were the most abundant, contributing 799 and 506 stems per acre. <br />DISCUSSION <br />Climatic Conditions <br />Since sampling in July 2012, ten of twelve months had been below average in precipitation, with <br />December 2012 and April 2013 being greater than twice average (Figure 6b). Altogether the precipitation <br />total for the 12 months preceding sampling was well below average (Figure 7b). 2013 was well above the <br />average temperature — in fact it was the highest year in the 27 -year record (started in 1986) (Figure 10). <br />In the context of the six or four - months preceding sampling (Figures 8b and 9b, respectively) the <br />cumulative precipitation was less dramatically below average, though still slightly so. However, warm <br />temperatures exacerbate any moisture shortages from the standpoint of growing vegetation. <br />10 <br />