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Thus, all sample sizes established to stu3y baseline vegetative conditions <br />at Seneca II Mine were determined by a combination of previous data, <br />experience in similar vegetation types aril discussions with em fenced <br />parties. <br />Both canopy cover (the percentage of the ground included in a vertical <br />projection of imaginary polygons drawn about the total natural spread <br />of the individual of a species) and basal cover (aggregate cross <br />sectional area of the individual plants taken near the ground surface) <br />were recorded for shrubs in each mover quadrat. Basal cover was <br />determined for all other life forms. Data were recorded separately for <br />each species in the quadrat as specified in Wyoming DF~ Guideline #2 <br />(March, 1979). Percent litter-rock and percent bare ground were also <br />determined for each plot. D~ Cliideline r2 (March, 1979) considers both <br />litter and rock as a part of the ground cover. This is so that <br />collected data will be consistent with the needs of the universal soil <br />loss equation. All vegetation parts eno~gxzssed within the quadrat <br />were included in Dauer estimates regardless of whether the plant was <br />rooted inside or outside of the quadrat (P7yoming DEQ Guideline #2). <br />C. To facilitate estimation and recording of data at each cover quadrat, <br />coverage was divided into six unequal classes and the representation in <br />each class noted by a coverage class number on the data sheet <br />(Dautenmire, 1959). The midpoint of each coverage class was used in the <br />subsequent cover data analyses as shoran below: <br />Midpoint of <br />Coverage Class Range of Coverage, B Coverage Class, ~ <br />1 0-5 2.5 <br />2 5-25 15.0 <br />3 25-50 37.5 <br />4 50-75 62.5 <br />5 75-95 85.0 <br />6 95-100 97.5 <br />~ . Source: Daubenmire, 1959 <br />-8- <br />