I 



7 

 effect of rooting substrate, site and their interaction on 

 components of fecundity: (1) fruits per inflorescence, (2) fruits 

 per plant and (3) inflorescences per plant. Fecundity variables 

 were log-transformed before analysis. Statistical calculations 

 were performed on a microcomputer using SYSTAT (Wilkinson 1986) . 



Results 



In all four transects cryptogamic soil crust was less common 

 than bare soil, but more A^ fecunda plants were rooted in crust 

 (Table 1) . 



At Birch Creek and Lime Gulch South there was a significant 

 difference in the distribution of A^ fecunda life stage classes 

 between bare soil and soil crust (Table 2) . At both sites plants 

 in Class I were proportionally underrepresented on soil crust. 

 At Birch Creek both Class II and III were underrepresented on 

 bare soil, while only Class II was underrepresented on bare soil 

 at Lime Gulch South. These trends were not apparent at Charley's 

 Gulch or Lime Gulch North, where significant associations were 

 not detected (Table 2) . 



Whether a plant was rooted in bare soil or soil crust did 

 not have a significant effect on any of the fecundity components 

 (ANOVA, N=208, p>0.180). Site had a significant effect on all 



