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• P~ 17 <br />June 18, 1985 <br />Daniel's Pit 2 <br />C. Farrell <br />SPECIES RELATIVE ABUNDANCE <br />(1= RARE; 10 = COhA10N) <br />Bromus tectorum 4 <br />P1elilotus officinalis 3 <br />Medicago saliva 2 <br />La ula texana 3 <br />Oenothera caespitosa 3 <br />Stipa comata 8 <br />Chenopodium ~ 6 <br />Mentzelia sue. 4 <br />Solidago ~ 5 <br />Lupinus sp. 3 <br />Sitanion hystrix 6 <br />Descurainia pinnata 7 <br />Tragopogon dubius 4 <br />Kochia scoparia 6 <br />Salsola kali 4 <br />Grindelia squarrosa 4 <br />Helianthus annuus 5 <br />Opuntia polyacantha 2 <br />Erigeron pinnatisectus 2 <br />Agropyron cristatum 3 <br />A. smithii 2 <br />Bouteloua gracilis 2 <br />As can be seen from this list, the species are primarily native <br />and introduced invaders and weeds. However, in the survey it was noted <br />that an abundance of grass seedlings were found which indicates that the <br />grasses are on the increase. It is estimated that the cover is fairly <br />close to its maximum potential for this site, but the species <br />composition will undergo a considerable shift toward grasses and some of <br />the more "climax" fortis. This is evidenced by the age differentiation <br />in the population. <br />In our estimation, even though the area was not seeded it shows an <br />excellent cover and is comparable to other areas in the vicinity of this <br />site, particularly the roadsides. We feel that in a few more years the <br />age differentiation and the growth form shift will turn this site into <br />an appearance not unlike that of the best areas in the vicinity of this <br />site. Because of the unusual nature of the year when this was <br />topsoiled, we do not wish to make the impression that what has occurred <br />on this site is what can be expected from normal years, but it does <br />provide an excellent baseline for what does happen in wet years as well <br />as what course the vegetation can be expected to take if no revegetation <br />were instituted on any of the mined land. In other words, this site <br />provides some indication of what nature would do in the revegetation of <br />a similar site where similar soil was redistributed. <br />