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First hit interceptions were used to calculate absolute top layer foliar cover (see FIRST HIT <br />AVERAGE COVER column in data tables) by dividing the number of interceptions for a particular <br />species or ground cover type by the total number of points taken (100). First hit relative <br />vegetation cover was calculated by dividing first hit absolute cover for each species by the total <br />first hit vegetation cover (see FIRST HIT RELATIVE VEGETATION COVER). All -layer absolute <br />cover (ALL HIT AVERAGE COVER column in data tables) was calculated by dividing all hits <br />(first -hits and additional -hits) for a particular species by the total number of points taken (100). In <br />addition, all -layer relative cover was calculated using all hits for a particular species, divided by <br />the total hits accumulated during sampling of the transect (see ALL HIT RELATIVE <br />VEGETATION COVER). <br />Herbaceous Production Sampling <br />Herbaceous production sampling was accomplished using one -half square meter (0.5 sq.m.) <br />circular plots within which all herbaceous growth in a vertical projection was clipped and placed in <br />labeled paper bags. Clipped plant material were grouped into the following lifeforms, bagged and <br />labeled as: <br />- Native Annual / Biennial Forbs <br />- Native Annual Grasses <br />- Native Perennial Forbs <br />- Native Perennial Cool Season Grasses <br />- Introduced Annual / Biennial Forbs <br />- Introduced Annual Grasses <br />- Introduced Perennial Forbs <br />- Introduced Perennial Cool Season Grasses <br />- Native Perennial Warm Season Grasses - Introduced Perennial Warm Season Grasses <br />Lichens, mosses, and woody plant species present in the sample plot were not collected. <br />Noxious weeds were not collected. Clipped material was returned to the ESCO laboratory and <br />oven dried at 105 °C for 24 hours, then weighed to the nearest 0.1 gm. <br />Woody Plant Density Sampling <br />Woody plant density sampling was undertaken in all reclaimed areas sampled but not in the <br />reference areas. Samples were collected along 50 m transects. All shrubs and subshrubs with <br />root crowns located within the boundaries of 2 X 50 m quadrats (belt transects) were tallied <br />according to species and life stage as either seedling, mature, or dead. The presence of dead <br />individuals was recorded but did not contribute to woody plant density calculations. <br />In 2013 woody plant density data was collected in Shrub Concentration Areas which were fenced <br />in 2006. <br />