**2.2 Ground vegetation survey**

Typical sampling methods were used in mid-August of 2015 to survey aboveground plant species composition, densities, heights, coverage, and frequencies in the various *C. microphylla* plantations. The specific location of plants in the plots, micro-topography, and other characteristics were simultaneously recorded in addition to sub-cover via grid needling methods. Each of the six plots consisted of ten 1 m 1 m quadrats for a total of 60 quadrats.
