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SHRUB AND TREE AGE DATA <br />Selected specimens of five different shrub species (Basin big sagebrush, <br />conenon chokecherry, Utah serviceberry, rrountain snowberry and Gambel <br />`` oak) and aspen were aged and their size (height for shrubs and circuRr <br />ference at breast height for aspen) measured to deternine the correlation <br />between size and age. The resulting information provided the basis for <br />estimating the age of tree and shrub stands based on their size. For <br />each species, 20 healthy specimens of varying size were selected from a <br />variety of locations and envirorurental conditions. Aging techniques <br />varied slightly for the different species. <br />Stems of bio sagebrush plants were cut off at ground level with a hacksaw <br />and the excess sta-n material removed. The sample was appropriately <br />labeled and stored in a labeled bag. The sar.4oles were sanded to a sr*.noth <br />surface with progressively finer grades of sand and e~mry paper. The <br />samples vrere then aged (annual growth rings counted) with a ten-pacer <br />hand lens.. <br />C• <br />Chokecherry, serviceberry, and snocabeny samples were taken in the runner <br />described for the big sagebrush with a slight variation. In selecting <br />the stem for cutting, the largest stem in each shrub was removed at <br />gro~md level. In the laboratory, the stems were cut to a length of <br />10 cm then sawed diagonally through the opposite ends. The better of <br />the two halves was then sanded in the same manner as described for the <br />big sagebrush. The bark was rerroved and the halves were boiled for an <br />hour with frequent water changes to avoid unnecessary vrood discoloration. <br />The annual rings were then counted with the aid of a ten-pacer hand lens. <br />Young aspen and Gambel oak specimens were aged using the above n~thod. <br />For larger specimmnG, a 15 inch Scaedish increment corer was used to <br />obtain a sample core from each sYu_tib or tree. The cores were place3 <br />inside soda straws aril sealed in appropriately labeled envelopes to avoid <br />brea'aage. The core samples were air dried approximately 24 hours in the <br />laboratory. After they Caere sufficiently dry, the cores Caere glued into <br />~• a slotted mounting board and carap;~cl tightly with string. Once the glue <br />-13- <br />