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population. Herbaceous production quadrat weights were variable, though sample <br />adequacy was indicated with 32 samples from the population. <br />Woody Plant Density <br />Twelve woody plant species were encountered in the woody plant density sampling in <br />the aspen community. Woody plant density in the aspen community was dominated by <br />four species (Table 7). Interestingly, Popu/us tremuloides was not the most prevalent <br />(dense) woody plant species encountered. This indicates that the Popu/us tremuloides <br />individuals present are of generally lazge stature (in order to account for their cover <br />dominance) and mature age. The most prevalent woody species was the medium height <br />shrub, Symphoricarpos rotundifolius, accounting for 34.86 individuals per 100 square <br />meters (1411 per acre). Three additional species provided significant densities in <br />addition to Symphoricarpos rotundifo(ius. Arrtelanchier alnifolia provided 25.10 <br />individuals per (00 square meters (1016 per acre), Prunus targiniana individuals <br />totaled 19.29 individuals per 100 square meters (781 per acre), and Quercus gambelii <br />individuals accounted for 18.10 individuals per 100 squaze meters (732 per acre). The <br />densities of these three tall shrubs were relatively close in the aspen community. Two <br />medium height shrubs provided densities close to 5 individuals per 100 square meters, <br />Ribes parvi!)orum, and Idlbus parvitlorum (thimbleberry). Remaining woody plant <br />species encountered during density sampling accounted for less than 2.2 individuals per <br />• 100 squaze meters each. Species represented in woody plant density sampling parallel <br />those dominating the vegetation cover. Additionally, species presence and dominance <br />is directly related to height and stature within the strata of the community. <br />Species Diversity <br />Within the aspen community cover sampling four lifeforms were represented; <br />gtaminoids, forts, woody shrubs and trees. The lifeforms included five species of <br />perennial grasses, fifteen perennial forts, thirteen shrubs, and one tree. As noted <br />eazlier, the shrub species can be subdivided into three categories. Of the 34 species <br />encountered during cover sampling, 31 were native (three grasses, fourteen forts, and <br />fourteen woody plants). Three species were introduced (two grasses and one fort). <br />Native species accounted for 97.1 percent of the mean vegetation cover. Seasonality of <br />aspen community herbaceous species was entirely cool season. Woody species were <br />predominantly deciduous, with two of the fourteen species being evergreen. Table 1 <br />provides a listing and characterization of the plant species encountered during cover <br />sampling at the study area. <br />Six species of the 34 encountered during cover sampling accounted for greater than <br />three percent relative cover. Five of the six species were woody plants. These species <br />included; Populus nemuloides with 46.55 percent relative cover, Amelanchier alnifolia <br />• with 10.99 percent relative cover, Quercus gambelii with 9.87 percent relative cover, <br />Prunus virginiana providing 7.08 percent relative cover, Symphoricarpos rorundifolius <br />with 6.24 percent relative cover, and Carexgeyeri with 4.00 percent rehttive cover. <br />-14 <br />