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Herbaceous Production <br />Results of herbaceous production sampling in the riparian community are presented in <br />Table 9. Mean total herbaceous production of the sampled quadrats within the riparian <br />stands within the study area was 90.02 g/m2 (802.4 lb/ac). Herbaceous production <br />quadrat weights were variable, as reflected through the high standard deviation and <br />sample adequacy numbers. The results of herbaceous production sampling were <br />plotted, and revealed a broad shallow curve which was bi-modal. Whether the bi- <br />modal nature of the curve is an artifact of sampling or representative of the structure of <br />the riparian community is not known. <br />Woody Plant Density <br />The riparian community was represented by twenty species in woody plant density <br />sampling. This was the greatest number of individual woody plant species in any of the <br />communities. Woody plant density in the riparian community was more evenly <br />distributed than in other communities, with several species showing significant densities <br />(Table 10). As with the aspen community, the most prevalent woody species in the <br />canopy (as evaluated through cover data) was not the most prevalent species in numbers <br />of individuals overall. The most prevalent woody species was the medium height <br />shrub, Symphoricatpos rotundito/ius, accounting for 29.65 individuals per 100 squaze <br />meters (1200 per acre). Six additional species followed in terms of significant <br />densities; Rosa uvodsii, Acer negundo, Swida sericea, Ame/anchier alniloL'a, Salix <br />monticola, and Prunus virginiana. Crataegus riwlaris and Populus tremu/oides were <br />present in densities close to six per 100 square meters. Remaining woody plant species <br />were encountered in densities less than 2.6 individuals per 100 squaze meters each. Of <br />the species dominating cover of the riparian community (Ater negundo, Picea pungens <br />and Populus angusbfo/ia), only Acer negundo shows significant seedling and sapling <br />recruitment in the understory strata. <br />Species Diversity <br />Four lifeforms were present within the riparian community cover sampling; <br />graminoids, forbs, woody shrubs, and trees. The lifeforms included eight species of <br />perennial graminoids, of which two species were horsetails (non-flowering ancient <br />plants), one was a species of sedge, and one was a rush species. Eighteen forbs were <br />represented, as were thirteen shrubs, and four tree species. Of the 43 species <br />encountered during cover sampling, 36 were native (six grasses, thirteen forbs, and <br />seventeen woody plants) and seven were introduced (two grasses and five forbs). <br />Native species accounted for 87.6 percent of the mean vegetation cover. With the <br />,exception of one biennial and one annual species, all species were perennial. Only one <br />species was warm season. Woody species were predominantly deciduous, with five of <br />the seventeen species being evergreen. Table 1 provides a fisting and characterization <br />. of the plant species encountered during cover sampling at the study azea. <br />-19- <br />