Laserfiche WebLink
• randomly chosen in the same fashion used for single stage random sampling described above. <br />At each of these three sample points in each of the fifteen primary sample units, 2m x 50m <br />quadrats were located and randomly oriented in the normal manner and shrubs were tallied as <br />described above. <br />Lifeforms Used in Data Presentation <br />As a tool to enhance understanding of the collected data, the contents of the cover and <br />summary tables addressing relative cover and species density, as well as the species presence <br />tables, are organized by lifeform. Categories used include lifeform in the usual sense with an <br />indication of provenance (place of origin). Categories used include the following: Native annual <br />and biennial forbs, Introduced annual and biennial forbs, Native annual grasses, Introduced <br />annual grasses, Native perennial forbs, Introduced perennial forbs, Native perennial graminoids <br />(includes grasses and grass-like plants), Introduced perennial graminoids, Shrubs (all of these <br />being native at this site), Trees (likewise all native in the study area), and Ferns. <br />Plant Species Frequency and Density Measurements <br />• During the course of cover sampling, all plant species occurring within one meter on either side <br />of the cover sample transect were noted as present within each sample. Frequency for each <br />plant species observed during sampling was calculated by dividing the number of sample <br />transects in which the species was observed by the total number of samples (see cover sample <br />distribution by area above). As such, this value is probably more correctly known as <br />"constancy". Relative vegetation cover was calculated by dividing the absolute cover of each <br />species by the total vegetation cover with the result expressed as a percent. <br />The total number of species (within each lifeform) observed in each sample provide a measure <br />of "species density", indicating relative species richness of different areas. These measures <br />reflect progress toward return of diverse species composition in the reclaimed areas from a <br />different perspective than is available from examination of cover data alone. <br />Plant Species Listing <br />During the course of the field work, a list of all encountered plant species (quantitative plus <br />incidental observations) was compiled for each reclamation area and the two reference areas. <br />• Scientific names used follow Weber and Wittman (1992); common names cited may be found <br />4 <br />