Laserfiche WebLink
particular species divided by the total hits accumulated during sampling of the transect (see ALL HIT <br />RELATIVE VEGETATION COVER). <br />Herbaceous Production Sampling <br />Herbaceous production sampling was accomplished in 2006 reclaimed area and reference areas using <br />one -half square meter (0.5 m2) circular plots within which all herbaceous growth in a vertical projection <br />was removed by clipping, separated by lifeform and placed in labeled paper bags. Lichens, mosses, and <br />woody plant species present in the sample plot were not collected. Clipped plants were grouped into the <br />following life forms as they were bagged: <br />- Native Annual / Biennial Forbs <br />- Native Annual Grasses <br />- Native Perennial Forbs <br />- Introduced Annual / Biennial Forbs <br />- Introduced Annual Grasses <br />- Introduced Perennial Forbs <br />- Native Perennial Cool Season Grasses - Introduced Perennial Cool Season Grasses <br />- Native Perennial Warm Season Grasses - Introduced Perennial Warm Season Grasses <br />Clipped material was returned to the ESCO laboratory and dried at 105 °C for 24 hours, then weighed to <br />the nearest 0.1 gm. <br />Woody Plant Density Sampling <br />Woody plant density sampling was undertaken in the 2006 and 2011 reclaimed areas but not in the <br />reference areas. Sampling of background woody plant density was conducted in conjunction with the <br />cover and production sampling. In addition, shrub concentration areas and a random sampling of woody <br />plant density across the mine were sampled separately. Woody plant density areas and sample locations <br />sampled at the Seneca IIW Mine in 2013 are shown on Map 1, "2013 Interim Monitoring Locations ". <br />Woody plant density samples were collected along 50 m transects. All shrubs and subshrubs with root <br />crowns located within the boundaries of 2 X 50 m quadrats (belt transects) were tallied according to <br />species and life stages as either seedling, mature, or dead. The presence of dead individuals was <br />recorded but did not contribute to woody plant density calculations. <br />Lifeforms Used in Data Presentation <br />As a tool to enhance understanding of the collected data, the contents of all data and summary tables are <br />organized by lifeform. Lifeform categories used here reflect growth habit and provenance (place of <br />origin). Lifeform categories used include the following: native annual and biennial fortis, introduced <br />annual and biennial forbs, introduced annual grasses, native perennial forbs, introduced perennial fortis, <br />native perennial cool season graminoids (includes grasses and grass -like plants), introduced perennial <br />cool season graminoids, native shrubs, native trees, bryophytes, lichens, and succulents. <br />I► <br />