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since the 2008 reclamation effort (Table 2). The dominant pioneer plant species from 2013 and <br /> 2014, blazing star (Mentzelia laevicaulis) which is a biennial herbaceous plant, was joined by <br /> an annual buckwheat (Eriogonum deflexum) in 2015. The dominant shrubs were four-wing <br /> saltbush (Atriplex canescens), green rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) and broom <br /> snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae). Grass were more abundant than observed in 2014, but <br /> showed evidence of grazing, and included blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), Indian ricegrass <br /> (Achnatherum hymenoides), and western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithir). <br /> Table 2. Vegetative Diversity, Mesita Hill Site, July 2015. <br /> Area Diversity(#of spp) <br /> Northern portion 10 <br /> Northeast portion 8 <br /> Main Pit—north slope 7 <br /> Main Pit--east slope 10 <br /> Main Pit—south slope 8 <br /> Main Pit—west slope 7 <br /> Northwest portion 8 <br /> Western portion 8 <br /> Southwest slope 10 <br /> Southern portion 9 <br /> Southeastern hillock _ 7 <br /> Central flat 6 <br /> Other plant species present on the site included wirelettuce (Stephanomeria tenuifolia), <br /> buckwheat (Eriogonum deflexum, bottlebrush grass (Hordeum jubatum), three-awn grass <br /> (Aristida sp.), winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata), and a couple of annual flowering plants. <br /> Some plants, particularly the grasses, were clipped, presumably from grazing by cattle and <br /> wildlife. <br /> Wildlife <br /> Scoria rock outcrops have been found to have greater bird populations and bird species <br /> richness than in the surrounding sagebrush and grassland habitats'. In studies, these <br /> differences were attributed to the structural features provided by the outcrops. In addition, most <br /> small mammal populations were also larger in the outcrops habitats. <br /> Evidence of wildlife presence on the site have continued to increase since reclamation efforts. <br /> Bird observations included passerine birds, common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor), and <br /> 6 <br />