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Mathematical evaluation of the relationship between "pre-growing season" precipitation <br />and total vegetation cover and total herbaceous production was undertaken. Using data <br />from the communities of Table 4, both total vegetation cover and total herbaceous <br />production are positively correlated with "pre-growing season" precipitation. While <br />total herbaceous production showed a stronger correlation (r=0.793) than total <br />vegetation cover (r=0.668) to "pre-growing season" precipitation, it should be noted <br />that the correlation coefficient is indicative of the strength of the linear relationship <br />between the correlated factors. Many biologic systems exhibit lineaz relationships only <br />in very limited ranges. With the collection of additional data, it may be determined <br />that the relationships between total vegetation cover, total herbaceous production and <br />"pre-growing season" precipitation may be best described by non-linear equations. <br />To test the strength of the relationships between total vegetation cover, total herbaceous <br />production, and "pre-growing season" precipitation, both lineaz and polynomial <br />(quadratic) equations were developed based on the data from Figure 4. While the <br />equations provided reasonable approximations to the empirical data, none of the <br />equations provided statistically significant regressions. It is postulated that predictive <br />equations may be closely tied to individual vegetation communities, and that the use of <br />three separate and distinct communities may have affected the mathematical <br />relationship. Though the "pre-growing season" precipitation explains a significant <br />proportion of the two parameters, additional factors may have compounding effects on <br />cover and herbaceous production. <br />In future sampling of the historic record vegetation community, the relationship <br />between total vegetation cover, total herbaceous production, and "pre-growing season" <br />precipitation may be further clarified. If the relationships are statistically quantifiable <br />and significant for the historic record vegetation community, quantitative predictive _. <br />values for any growing season may be calculated. These predictive values may lead to <br />significant changes in the manner in which revegetation success is viewed. <br />-12- <br />