Laserfiche WebLink
• Species Diversity and Composition <br />Species density reflects the total number of species present (richness) in 100 square meters one <br />meter to either side of the SOm cover sample transects. Species density data are summarized in <br />Table 7 and graphically presented in Figure 3. As was discussed above, areas exemplified by <br />Sample 1 and 3 are primarily communities of annual and biennial weeds. However, they do have <br />a diversity of lifeforms present (still, however, only about one-half to two-thirds of the Sagebrush <br />reference area species density values). In these areas most of the perennial species are little <br />developed and present in very small amounts. Similarly, the heavily alfalfa-covered areas <br />exemplified in Sample 2 do have a mix of lifeforms present but only about one-third of the total <br />species density of the Sagebrush reference. As discussed above, Samples 4 and 5 reflect a <br />more normal path for reclamation. Here, the overall species density equals and exceeds that of <br />the Sagebrush reference area samples (see Figure 4). Introduced annual and biennial species <br />are more numerous in the reclaimed areas, but proportions of perennial lifeforms are comparable <br />(Figure 4). <br />Relative cover by lifeform is summarized in Table 15 and graphically presented in Figure 4. Data <br />on which this graph is based are presented in Tables 1 and 4. These data reinforce the <br />conclusion that has previously been reached that Samples 1 and 3 represent areas that are <br />mostly annuallbiennial weed fields and Sample 2 clearly reflects the superabundance of alfalfa. <br />Samples 4 and 5 are much closer approximations of the Sagebrush reference area composition, <br />with substantial development of native perennial cool season grasses. Although native perennial <br />forb and shrub species are present (see Figure 3), they have little areal extent as yet (Figure 4). <br />Sample Adequacy <br />Though no attempt to achieve sample adequacy was made in this overview study, a summary of <br />sample adequacy calculations for the parameters of cover, herbaceous production, and woody <br />plant density is presented in Table 16 (Appendix 1). <br />• <br />• <br />