Long-term Monitoring Study- 

 In May, 1987, we established permanent belt transects of 12 

 adjacent 1 m 2 plots at both sites following the methods outlined 

 in Lesica (1987). Individual A. fecunda plants were mapped and 

 recorded using the following system: 



S = seedling 



R = the number of rosettes per plant 



I = the total number of inflorescences (stems) per plant 



F = the total number of fruits produced by the plant 



Thus, a plant with two rosettes, three stems and a total of nine 

 fruits would be recorded as R1-I3-F9. Seedlings were recognized 

 by their small size and the absence of leaves from the previous 

 year. In addition, we noted the presence of recently disturbed 

 soil and evidence of livestock trampling. We did not record 

 seedlings at the Birch Creek site in 1987. The transects were 

 read on May 19-20, 1987 and 1988. 



Knapweed Removal Study 



In May, 1987, we established permanent belt transects 

 consisting of 10 adjacent 1 m 2 plots at each of the study sites 

 following the methods of Lesica (1987). Transects were placed in 

 areas with relatively heavy knapweed infestations. Individual A. 

 fecunda plants were mapped and recorded as in the long-term 

 monitoring study. For each transect, we removed the knapweed 

 from five randomly selected plots by carefully cutting the plants 

 below the root crown with a sharp knife. Knapweed was removed 

 from plots 2,4,5,8, and 9 at Birch Creek and from plots 1,4,5,8, 

 and 9 at Charleys Gulch. We did not record seedlings at the 

 Birch Creek site in 1987. The transects were read on May 19-20, 

 1987 and 1988. 



Soil Crust Ecology Study 



In order to determine whether there is an association 

 between intact cryptogamic soil crust and the distribution of A. 

 fecunda , we estimated cover of soil crust and bare ground in belt 

 transects consisting of adjacent 1 m 2 plots. These transects 

 were chosen to be representative of the steep, highly erodible 

 slopes where A. fecunda is most frequent. We measured cover of 

 bare ground and soil crust using a point-frequency frame 

 (Mueller-Dombois and Ellenberg 1974, p. 86). The frame was 1X1 

 m with 20 equally-spaced pins. In each plot, the pins were 

 dropped to the surface and the number of hits on bare soil and 

 soil crust was recorded. Hits on exposed rock were not included 

 in subsequent analyses. The diameter of the pins was 

 approximately equal to the diameter of a taproot of A. fecunda 

 (ca. 0.1 in). In addition, we recorded the number of A. fecunda 

 plants rooted in the soil crust and the total number of A. 



