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0 Area weighted mean reference area species density (no. of species per 100 sq.m.) - 1.15 s <br />In words, we are selecting as the standard the midpoint (in terms of probability distribution) of the <br />lower half of the range of variation of the Reference Areas. <br />Note that this test addresses total species density, not just native species density (see Alternative Test <br />D below). (Noxious weeds will be omitted in conformance with other existing requirements). The <br />point of addressing total species density, including annual /biennial species and introduced species, is <br />that the total species density is arguably a strong indication of the existence of niche spaces that could <br />eventually be occupied by the native forb and woody plant species that exist in the Reference Areas. <br />The "best" (in the agricultural sense) stands of grass might not qualify because they would have <br />crowded out the "weeds" (which, in the agricultural sense, means most of the species that we are <br />interested in here). At the other end of the spectrum, protection from accepting an actual "weed <br />patch" is assured by requirements limiting the participation of noxious weeds in cover and production <br />standards. <br />The final step for this assessment would be a one - sample t -test comparing the reclaimed area species <br />density mean against the applicable Reference Area standard (described above). <br />For Example: If Reference Areas species density in the test year has a mean total species density of <br />25.2 species per 100 sq.m. and a standard deviation of 5.3, the standard would be: <br />- (1.15)x5.3 =19.1 <br />Thus, since the area of reclamation being tested at the mine that year averaged 21.1 species per 100 <br />sq.m., Alternative Test B was satisfied. (Note that there are no statistics involved here -- since the <br />reclaimed area value was greater than the standard). <br />• ALTERNATIVE TEST C.• Assessment of the Distribution of Species Abundance Among Lifeforms in <br />Comparison to the Reference Areas <br />Part of the quality of diversity in reclaimed lands as they carry forth into the future relates to the total <br />number of species that the ecosystem can support (Alternative Test A above). And part relates to the <br />distribution of the development of those species among the various lifeforms in comparison to the <br />RN -03 <br />43 <br />Revised 10/10 <br />