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Woody plant density, by species, for the sagebrush, mountain shrub, and aspen communities <br />is shown on Table 5, Woody Plant Density: <br />Following is a general description of each of the vegetation communities, including various <br />environmental factors contributing to the distribution of the types. The relationships between <br />soil particle size versus soil moisture and their combined effect on vegetation community <br />distribution is illustrated on Figure 1, Environmental Gradient/Plant Tolerance Graph. <br />Sagebrush Community <br />The sagebrush community is characterized by almost complete dominance of the overstory <br />by big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentatel), and snowberry (Symphoricarpos oreophilus), at <br />a density of 2,739 and 1,822 plants per acre, respectively. The measurement of snowberry <br />density is a very subjective measurement whereby large clumps of [he species make actual <br />measurement of individual plants along the transect very difficult. Therefore, the given <br />density value is, at best, an approximation of actual density but still provides an indication of <br />relative abundance in the overall vegetative community. For additional woody plant density <br />values by species refer to Table 5, Woody Plant Density. <br />The growth form of the community is characterized by scattered shrubs of low to medium <br />height, rarely exceeding four feet. Numerous areas of: open ground exist with various grasses <br />and (orbs comprising the understory. The most abundant grasses are western wheatgrass <br />(Agropyron smithii), Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis), mountain brome (Bromus <br />• marginatus), and green needlegrass (Stipa viridula). The most abundant fortis are lupine <br />(Copious caudatus), wild onion (Allium spp.), anowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza <br />sagittata), and yarrow (Achillea lanulosa). During 1980 and 1989 the total herbaceous cover <br />was determined to be 30.9% and 39.71% respectively. For details on cover of individual <br />species refer to Table 2, 1980 Herbaceous Cover by Species and Table 2A, 1988 Herbaceous <br />Cover by Species. <br />~~ <br />2.04.10-9 <br />