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one-meter interval along the transect, a "laser point bar" was situated parallel to, and approximately <br /> 4.5 to 5.0 feet vertically above the ground surface. The laser point bar activates a battery of 10 low- <br /> energy specialized lasers situated along the bar at 10 centimeter intervals. Each of the narrowly <br /> focused (0.02 inch diameter) laser beams (Figure 1) are oriented to land along the transect and each <br /> intercept(hit) is recorded. At each meter, a set of 10 readings was taken specifically to record hits on <br /> vegetation (by species), litter (including standing dead), rock(inorganic material >2mm), or bare soil. <br /> In this manner, a total of 100 intercepts per transect were recorded resulting in 1 percent cover per <br /> intercept. This methodology and instrumentation facilitates the collection of the most unbiased, <br /> repeatable, and precise ground cover data possible. To facilitate diversity calculations, second hits <br /> were recorded when an overstory shrub stratum was present. However, these second hits were not <br /> included in the determination of ground cover. Plant material produced in the 2019 growing season <br /> which was still attached to the plant was considered as living plant material whereas all plant material <br /> produced in prior years, which was dead or which had fallen to the ground was considered to be litter. <br /> 6 <br />