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areas. Samples were collected along 50 m transects. All shrubs and subshrubs with root crowns located <br />within the boundaries of 2 m x 50 m quadrats (belt transects) were tallied according to species and life <br />stage as either seedling, mature, or dead. The presence of dead individuals was recorded but did not <br />contribute to woody plant density calculations. <br />Lifeforms Used in Data Presentation <br />To enhance understanding of the collected data, all data and summary tables are organized by lifeform. <br />Lifeform categories used here reflect both plant growth habit and provenance (place of origin). <br />Categories observed in 2011 and 2012 were: native annual and biennial forbs, introduced annual and <br />biennial forbs, introduced annual grasses, native perennial forbs, introduced perennial forbs, native <br />perennial grasses and graminoids, introduced perennial grasses, native shrubs, native trees, ferns, <br />bryophytes (mosses), lichens and basidiomycetes (mushrooms). <br />Plant Species Frequency and Density Measurements <br />During the course of cover sampling, all plant species occurring within one meter of either side of the <br />cover sample transect were noted as present. Frequency for each plant species observed during <br />sampling was calculated by dividing the number of sample transects in which the species was observed <br />by the total number of samples (see cover sample distribution by area above). As such, this value is <br />probably more correctly known as constancy. <br />The total number of species within each lifeform observed in each 100 square meter (100 sq.m.) sample <br />provides a measure of "species density ", indicating the relative species richness of different areas. This <br />measure provides a means of examining progress toward the return of diverse species composition in the <br />reclaimed areas. <br />Plant Species Listing <br />Scientific names used follow Weber and Wittmann (2001); common names cited are found in Beetle <br />(1970), Nickerson et al. (1976), or Soil Conservation Service (1979). Cross - reference between older <br />names and revised names used here can be made by referring to Appendix D of this report. <br />During the course of fieldwork, a list of all plant species encountered (quantitative plus incidental <br />observations) was compiled for each potentially affected vegetation type and for the three reference <br />areas. These lists are tabulated in Appendix D, "Species Presence for All Areas." Note that all big <br />sagebrush plants encountered were referred to as Seriphidium tridentatum. Plants referred to here as <br />Poa secunda are the plants formerly known as big bluegrass (Poa ampla) a species commonly included <br />in reclamation seed mixes. The taxonomic treatment of Weber and Wittmann (1996) places Poa ampla <br />(as well as Poa sandbergii) with Poa secunda. Despite this merger, the distinctness of Poa ampla is worth <br />noting. Mountain bromegrass encountered during sampling is referred to as Ceratochloa polyantha in <br />3 <br />