89, CV=0.055) throughout the entire period 1959-1986 despite 

 wide fluctuations in deer numbers. 



Annual mean percentage of leader used on fragrant sumac 

 varied considerably (X = 33.2+9.5 SE, range 3-81, CV=0.68). 

 Lowest use was recorded during both low (1973-1976) and high 

 (1968-1970 and 1984-1986) deer population levels (Fig. 3.10). 



From transects established during 1959-1963, data on 

 longevity of tagged plants were available for 6 transects on 

 fragrant sumac and 2 transects on rubber rabbitbrush. Because 

 these transects of 25 plants were established using nearest 

 neighbor (of the same species) techniques, new plants 

 establishing between the original tagged plants could be 

 detected. Deaths of tagged plants were recorded as they 

 occurred through the years. Existing records were summarized 

 and, during measurements in spring 1985, particular attention 

 was given to dead tagged plants and new plants that had 

 established over the years. 



A total of 4 of 150 fragrant sumac plants had died on the 

 6 transects since 1963 and 19 new plants had established, for 

 a net increase of 15 plants. A total of 4 of 50 rubber 

 rabbitbrush plants had died on 2 transects, and 29 new plants 

 had established, for a net increase of 25 plants. Although a 

 few of the new shrubs may have been overlooked when the 

 transects were first established, the overall conclusion was 

 that the number of fragrant sumac and rubber rabbitbrush 

 plants on those transect areas increased after 1963. Because 

 we had increasing difficulty in finding 25 plants to measure 

 within one rubber rabbitbrush transect area without tagged 

 plants, we believe the number of rabbitbrush plants declined 

 through the years on that area. 



Line-intercept transects were established within mature 

 stands (100+ years) in the pine- juniper and Douglas 

 fir-juniper vegetation types in 1963 and remeasured during 

 1983. Within the pine- juniper type (Table 3.9), both 

 ponderosa pine and Rocky Mountain juniper increased in 

 coverage over the 20 year period, further closing the 

 overstory. Significant increases in canopy coverage occurred 

 for rubber rabbitbrush and green rabbitbrush, but canopy 

 coverage of current, gooseberry, and snowberry declined 

 significantly. Within the Douglas fir-juniper type (Table 

 3.10), canopy coverage of both Douglas fir and Rocky Mountain 

 juniper increased significantly, but canopy coverage of 

 Ponderosa pine declined. Among understory species, only 

 canopy coverage of fragrant sumac increased significantly. 

 Canopy coverage of rose, snowberry, gooseberry, and currant 

 decreased significantly. 



68 



