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SPECIES DIVERSITY <br />For purposes of assessment of progress toward bond release standards, species diversity is judged using <br />the following four tests present in the provisions of the permit; success is demonstrated by passing the <br />first (A) and at least two of the remaining three (B, C, and D). <br />Mandatory Test A): No Overwhelming Dominant <br />No single plant species may exceed 60% relative cover. <br />Alternative Test B): Total Species Density Test <br />In this test, overall reclamation diversity standard is judged based on the species density values observed <br />along with cover sampling in 100 sq.m. sample plots. Species density numbers are subjected to sample <br />adequacy assessment in the usual manner. <br />For purpose of establishing the range of species density within the reference areas, the 75% range of <br />variation is established as: <br />zxs <br />Where: <br />z = the number of standard deviations (both ways from the mean) <br />encompassing 75% of the normal distribution (= 1.15; see Rohlf and <br />Sokal 1969, Table P) <br />s = standard deviation (n-1) <br />The standard is the lower bound of the central 75% of the distribution of overall species density in the <br />reference areas. Mathematically this is: <br />Mean reference area species density (no. of species per 100 sq.m.) - 1.15 s <br />(Here the mean is the un -weighted mean of the five reference areas and the standard deviation is <br />derived from those five means) <br />The standard is based on a weighted average as done with cover and production. <br />