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systematically spaced at a rate of 2 points per meter. Of the pair of points projected at <br />• each meter, one was projected at a distance 50 cm to the right of the tape, and the other <br />was projected 50 cm to the left of the tape in areas not disturbed by the extension of the <br />tape. Litter was considered to be any organic material that had fallen, to the soil <br />surface. Standing dead was any dead plant material that was produced in previous <br />years but was still standing and had not lodged or broken off to become {fitter. In <br />addition to "first hit" data (the first interception of any of the above materials as a point is <br />projected from above), "additional hit" data (any additional live species intercepted ~r <br />between the first hit and the ground) were collected. First hit interceptions were used to <br />calculate absolute top layer (first hit) foliar cover by dividing the number of interceptions <br />for a particular species or material by the total number of points taken (100). First hit <br />relative vegetation cover was calculated by dividing first hit absolute cover for each <br />species by the total first hit vegetation cover. All-layer absolute cover was calculated by <br />dividing all hits for particular species by the total number of points taken (100). In <br />addition, all-layer relative cover was calculated using all hits for particular species <br />divided by the total vegetation hits accumulated during sampling of the transect. <br />• ~ecies Diversity (Density) <br />Along point intercept transects, species presence data were collected. Each species <br />encountered within the area of one meter to either side of the transect (50m x 2m = 100 <br />mZ) were tallied. These presence data along with point-intercept data were used to <br />produce values for species density expressed as the number of species per 100-sq. m. <br />This information is supplemental to the cover data that comprise the basis of the species <br />diversity performance standard at the Colowyo Mine. <br />Woody Plant Density Sampling <br />Woody plant density was sampled at each point intercept transect. All shrubs and <br />subshrubs were tallied if their root crowns emerged within the boundary of the (SOm x <br />2m = 100 m2) transect. Results are presented as the tallied number per 100-sq. m. as <br />well as a projected number per acre. <br />Photographic Record <br />Within each reclamation area, representative color photographs were taken to document <br />. the appearance of the vegetation in 2001. <br />