METHODS 



Ecological methods 



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Vegetation and site characteristics were documented for 23 plots according to methodology 

 described in Cooper et al. (1995). The plots were selected to sample rare and widespread native 

 plant communities in good condition representing the spectrum of elevation, aspects, landforms 

 and lithologies across the Ruby Range. Thirteen mostly lower elevation plots were sampled by 

 Steve Cooper and Bonnie Heidel in July and ten mostly higher elevation plots were sampled by 

 Jolin Pierce in late July and August. Figure 2 shows the location of the 23 plots. 



The data set was analyzed using the STRATA program of E.C.A.D.S. (Ecological Classification 

 And Description System), a USDA Forest Service ecological sampling package descendent from 

 ECODATA (Cooper et al. 1995). Based on their compositional similarity to community 

 types/plant associations of published studies, plots were subjectively placed in 16 different types; 

 synthesis and constancy/cover tables (Appendix B) were generated for the taxonomic units. The 

 tables use six letter acronyms to designate plant species by their scientific name. These are the 

 first three letters of the genus name followed by the first three letters of the specific epithet; 

 acronyms of most species in the Ruby Range analysis are listed in Cooper et al. (1995) and a 

 listing of standard acronyms for Montana species are listed in USDA Forest Service (1992). 



Vegetation Classification: A Perspective 



Vegetation classification, long regarded as something of an academic exercise, has come to the 

 forefront as a powerful natural resources management tool. Its utility is predicated on the 

 argument that plant species composition and structure is the most complete integrator of biotic 

 and site (abiotic) conditions and reflects the history of land use as well. More recently, 

 vegetation has been employed as a framework for conservation planning among federal, state, 

 and private organizations. The Nature Conservancy employs communities of native plants as the 

 "coarse filter' for identifying and protecting common species and landscape ecosystems, and rare 

 species as the "fine filter" (Noss 1987). 



Vegetation units provide a basis for setting biodiversity conservation priorities, based on 

 rangewide and statewide status. Criteria used include current and historic extent, uniqueness, 

 existing protection and threats. This focus does not preclude, but rather complements the 

 treatment of vegetation for its management values. To enliance its utility in both regards, 

 background information on vegetation classification is summarized in this methods section with 

 the goal of placing results of the inventory in a more fully developed ecological context. 



In this report , beginning on pg. 15, we describe 20 vegetation or synecological units. 

 Synecology is the field of ecology that deals with systems of many species, whole communities 

 or major fractions of communities. The kinds of vegetation units recognized are abstract classes, 

 each class being an assemblage of concrete examples, usually represented by samples or plots, 



