Laserfiche WebLink
monitoring program for ocular estimation of cover by this technique. For this project, the time <br />efficiencies of Quadrat sampling are minimized over the line transect method in the reclaimed <br />area since a line transect must be established anyway for shrub density sampling. As a result, <br />the line transect method, utilizing a 50 meter line transect, was employed. Points were recorded <br />at every meter along the 50 meter tape. <br />A ten-point frame positioned perpendicular to the transect and on the right side of the tape <br />was utilized to minimize potential bias. The sixth pin from the tape was used to record the <br />sample point. <br />Production: <br />Rocky Mountain Reclamation utilized a meter square quadrat for production sampling. A <br />smaller quadrat could be substituted, but sample adequacy would be expected to be reduced if <br />the same number of quadrats were sampled. Utilizing a meter square quadrat for this study was <br />an important factor leading to the high degree of statistical reliability obtained from this year's <br />sampling. <br />The meter square quadrat was randomly located utilizing two random numbers and was <br />located the distance of the first number along the transect and the distance of the second <br />number in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the tape. <br />Samples were collected by life form by clipping this year's above ground biomass <br />production. Bagged samples were then oven dried at 1000 until weights were stabilized. <br />Weights were then recorded to the nearest 0.1 gram. <br />Shrub Density: <br />Shrub density for the reclaimed area was determined utilizing 100 square meter Belt <br />Transects. Shrub density data collection were not required for the reference area as this <br />information is already available. Shrubs were individually counted fvr 1.0 meter on each side of <br />the 50 meter line transect used for cover estimation. <br />Statistical Analyses: <br />Data were collected, analyzed, and presented according to the procedures and formats <br />discussed with Ms. Janet Binns, State of Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology_ Sampling <br />continued until required sample adequacy was met. A one-sided test with a 0.10 alpha error <br />probability consistent with a 90 percent confidence level was utilized for statistical analyses. <br />Sampling analyses included the actual confidence level attained from field sampling (Appendix <br />B, Cover, Production, and Shrub Density tables}. <br />For the two reference areas, fifty sample locations (for the line transects and quadrats) <br />were initially randomly located prior to field work and were then established in the field. A grid <br />was established for each reference area and a random numbers table was utilized to locate <br />3 <br />