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SPECIES DIVERSITY AND COMPOSITION <br />With regard to Mandatory Test A, that no single species comprise greater than 60% relative cover in the <br />2011 BRB -1. Table H -1 shows that the most abundant single species alfalfa (Medicago sativa) was 18.9% <br />relative first -hit cover, below the 60% threshold of concern. <br />Hence Mandatory Test A is passed for 2011 data. <br />With regard to Alternative Test B, the Total Species Density test the following is calculated for the 2011 <br />BRB -1 (Table H -2): <br />Mean Species density (Area- weighted) in the 5 reference areas = 33.8 species per 100 sq.m. <br />Probability adjusted density standard: <br />Mean Reference Area Species Density — 1.15s = 33.8 —1.15 (6.99) = 25.8 <br />Mean total species density in the 2011 BRB -1 = 31.5 <br />Since the reclaimed area value was greater than the standard, Alternative Test B is passed for 2011 data. <br />Regarding Alternative Test C, the similarity index between the lifeform species density values for the <br />prescribed lifeforms for the 2011 BRB -1 and the Mean Species density (Area- weighted) in the five <br />reference areas is 86.5 percent (Table H -3), exceeding 90% of the standard (0.9 x 70% = 63 %). <br />Hence Alternative Test C is passed for 2011 data. <br />Regards Altemative Test D, the total number of native species encountered in the first eleven 100 sq. m. <br />(2m x 50 m) samples of the 2011 BRB -1 that constituted an adequate cover sample was 57 (Table H -4), <br />substantially greater than the weighted reference area average species density (29.4 species per 100 <br />sq .m.). <br />Hence Alternative Test D is passed for 2011 data. <br />In summary, Mandatory Test A was passed as were Alternative Tests B, C and D and hence the species <br />diversity test as a whole is passed for the 2011 BRB -1. <br />28 <br />