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From the data above some significant differences are noted in the characteristics of the <br />oakbrush communities sampled. Some variation is directly attributable to quantitative <br />• sampling methods and moisture and temperature regimes during the respective growing <br />seasons. Interestingly, the 1995 }tPE area oakbrush community showed the greatest cover <br />and lowest herbaceous production and woody plant density. This may be indicative of the <br />robust canopy of Quercus gambe/ii within this specific area of the RPE area. While the <br />1982 affected and reference area oakbrush communities showed significantly greater <br />densities, approximately 49 percent (MCC, 1995) were seedlings (0.25-0.75m tall). <br />Within the RPE area oakbrush few seedlings were noted, and with the exception of <br />Amelanchier alnijolia and Prurrus virgi»iana, the majority of the species comprising the <br />tall shrub layer were mature. <br />Though these differences exist between the 1982 and 1995 oakbrush sampling, on-site <br />observation of the oakbrush communities confirms that they are not significantly different <br />in terms of canopy and understory composition or dominant species makeup. As noted <br />(MCC, 1995), the oakbrush community is the most extensive plant community of the <br />permit and adjacent area, and occupies a diversity of niches in the landscape. <br />• <br />~ ~ <br />U <br />-9- <br />