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<br />e <br />ESPEY, HUSTON 8 ASSOCIATES, INC. <br />L_J <br />Productivity <br />The estimated ANP of plots within the big sagebrush community ranges <br />from 68 ams per square meter to 439.1 grams per square meter with an average <br />of 147.0 gram per square meter or 1,328 pounds per acre per year. Forbs aze the <br />major biomass producers with 70.6 grams per square meter or 49 percent of the <br />total biomass. Big sagebrush and rubber rabbitbrush aze the dominant producers of <br />shrub biomasa. Total shrub biomass is 31.0 grams per squaze meter. Lettermans <br />needlegrass, Canada bluegrass and western wheatgrass were the dominant grasses <br />(see Table R-5). This community produced 0.6 AUM per acre. <br />Species Diversity <br />Species diversity for this community is intermediate in value between <br />the meadow and mountain shrub communities, with an index of 42.0. Sixty-two <br />• species were encountered oa thirty transects. Equitability or evenness of cover <br />distribution among species is also intermediate with an index of 1.26. The shrub <br />strata and vaziation in topography, slope, aspect, and soil depth create opportunities <br />for a more vazied number of species in this community relative to the meadow <br />community. <br />3.2.3 Mountain Shrub Community <br />A mountain shrub community occurs on steep mountain slopes extending <br />down into the big sagebrush community. The actual interphase between these two <br />communities is determined by the degree of slope, physical and chemical soil <br />properties, and available moisture as reflected by aspect, drainage patterns and soil <br />texture. The major soil types in the community were Dollazd silty clay loam, a <br />well-drained soil with a slow permeability, Mergel gravelly loam, awell-drained soil <br />on steep slopes and Redthayne gravelly loam. Other soils present include the Owen <br />Creek silt loam and Jerry loam. <br />• <br />K-21 <br />