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laboratory Techniques. The current year's growth was separated from all <br />shrub, sub-shrub and cushion plant species in the laboratory. Shrub <br />A samples were dried at ambient air te~erature for approximately 30 days <br />prior to separation of new growth. This process greatly facilitated the <br />~ separation procedure and ensured a co~lete saagling of all leaves since <br />these kould generally drop off the plant when dried. New tcaig grvath <br />remained easily distinguishable from old growth (by its lighter color) <br />after 30 days of air drying. Thus, accurate separation of both leaf <br />and twig material was facilitated by this pre~irying technique. All <br />samples were dried for 24 hours in a gravity drying oven at a constant <br />te~erature of 105° C. All samples dried in this manner were weighed <br />to the nearest 0.1 gm (as specified in P7yomvtg DDS Gutideline #2, March, <br />1979) on an Ohaus triple beam balance. Production data were recorded <br />ac~rding to major species (i.e., species imst coicmonly encountered <br />along shrub transects in cover quadrats) and/or life form for each <br />sample site on standard data forms. <br />TREE DENSI'T'Y AND BASAL AREA DATA <br />The point-quarter technique was used to collect tree density and basal <br />area data (basal area is the area of a plane passed through the stem of <br />a tree at right angles to its longitudinal axis and at breast heicht) <br />within aspen stands on the study area. The technique utilized 10 paced <br />points located randomly (number of paces between points was determined <br />by a random numbers table) along a randomly located transect (Wyoming <br />DDQ, Guideline #2, March, 1979). At each sample point, an imaginary <br />grid line perpendicular to the transect route was used to divide t.`ie <br />area into four rniarterS. The tree nearest to the point in each quarter <br />was recorded by species, circiu:rference at breast height (inches) aril <br />distance from the point (feet) on a standard field data form. A total <br />of 30 transects (300 points) were surveyed on the study area (Map 1, <br />Appendix A). The number of transects surveyed euas determined according <br />to techniques specified under "Data Collection" above. <br />~• <br />-12- <br />