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i~ Species diversity - The mean number of species encountered along the 50 meter point cover transect was 9.8 and 11.9 respectively for study and reference area samples. Livestock Carrying Capacity - Average herbaceous production in the aspen type was 1152 Tbs/acre oven dry forage. Converting oven to air dry forage by a factor of 1.11, yields 1278 lbs/acre available herbaceous air dry forage. Assuming a 50 per cent utilization factor and 900 lbs/acre cattle animal unit,the cattle carrying capacity was 0.71 AUM's per acre. For sheep the carrying capacity was 4.26 AUM's per acre. 3.3.2 MOUNTAIN SHRUB The mountain shrub vegetation type occurred on a moisture gradient lying between the aspen and the sagebrush grassland vegetation types. On the mesic end of the type, Gambel oakbrush was dominant while common chokecherry was co-dominant with serviceberry. On the xeric end serviceberry was dominant M and western snowberry was co-dominant. The mountain shrub type occurred throughout the the study area but was most abundant and continuous south of West Fork. North of West Fork the type was less continuous and as elevations decrease to the north was found only in isolated areas on steep north facing slopes where moisture condition were more favorable. The mountain shrub type was identified by the dominant presence of serviceberry or Gambel oakbrush (Figure 3.3). The reference area for the mountain shrub vegetation type was located in section 30 on a ridgetop with east and west facing slopes at an elevation of approximately 8000 feet. The reference area was partially dominated by serviceberry and oakbrush (Figure 3.4). Cover - Total vegetation cover within the mountain shrub study area samples averaged 79.3 percent (Table 3.5 ). Bare ground averaged 5.6 percent 14 Exhibit 10, Item 5 Revision Date: 03/06/07 19 Revision No.: PR-02