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• Reference .Areas. This standard uses the Motyka similarity index to assess the resemblance of the distribution of speaes density by lifeform of the reclamation vegetation to that of the Reference Areas. Because the average internal resemblance (i.e. between-sample similarity) of Reference Areas fox species density data is oken in the range of 75%, this is the proposed speaes density standazd for the Yoast Mine. ISO=2c/(a+b) Where: c =the sum of the smaller of the paired speaes density values (for each life form) for reclaimed and Reference Areas* a =total of speaes density values for lifeforms of the reclaimed areas b =total of speaes density for the lifeforms of the Reference Areas* * 'Weighted average ]ifeform speaes density using the Yoast Reference Areas (weighted as spedfied under Cover above). Only speaes density by vasculaz herbaceous plants will be included. Lifeforms to be used include: • Annual/biennial forbs Perennial warn season grasses Annual grasses Subshrubs Perennialfoxbs Shrubs Perennial cool season grasses Trees If the calculated index of similarity by lifeform equals or exceeds 90 percent of the standazd (0.9 x 75% = 67.5%), then Alternative Test C has been passed. • ALTERNATIVE TESL D: Arrerrment of the Ptereace of Native Species Finally, the assessment of the speaes diversity of reclaimed lands needs to make reference to the presence in reclaimed areas of native western North American plant speaes. Alternative Test D is conducted as a direct test of the presence of native speaes in the reclaimed azea as reflected in the cumulative presence of reclaimed azea native spedes within the (usually 10 to 20) 2 • m x 50 m plots assoaated with the spedes density determination that accompanies covet sampling (see above). The comparison of this cumulative list of spedes found at the cover sample locations PR-02 44 Revised 01/~