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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). Categories <br />observed in 2012 were: native annual and biennial forbs, introduced annual and biennial forbs, introduced <br />annual grasses, native perennial forbs, introduced perennial forbs, native perennial grasses and <br />graminoids, introduced perennial grasses, native shrubs, native trees, ferns, bryophytes (mosses), fungi <br />and fungi (basidiomycete 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 sample provides a <br />measure of "species density ", indicating the relative species richness of different areas. This measure <br />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 except as noted follow Weber and Wittmann (2001); common names cited are <br />found in Beetle (1970), Nickerson et al. (1976), or Soil Conservation Service (1979). Cross - reference <br />between older names and revised names used here can be made by referring to Appendix D of this <br />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 ample) a species commonly included <br />in reclamation seed mixes. The taxonomic treatment of Weber and Wittmann (1996) places Poa ample <br />(as well as Poa sandbergiv) with Poa secunda. Despite this merger, the distinctness of Poa ample is worth <br />noting. Mountain bromegrass encountered during sampling is referred to as Ceratochloa polyantha in <br />recognition of its perennial habit compared to the C. carinatus taxon included in Weber and Wittmann <br />(2001) as the appropriate name for Colorado plants. The latter taxon (C. carinatus) is an annual. <br />Festuca ovina (sheep fescue) was included in the reclaimed area seed mixes generally. The degree to <br />3 <br />