releve Virginia Division of Natural Heritage, see http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/documents/nh_plotform_instructions.pdf
Overall Taxon Cover Values are Automatically Calculated?
no
Stem Observation Area
400
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
30
m
Shrub Height
4
m
Field Height
75
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
30
%
Field Cover
80
%
Nonvascular Cover
90
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot is located in a moderately large Shenandoah Valley sinkhole pond. The pond has three distinct environmental/vegetation zones: 1) open, deeply flooded center exclusively occupied by Nuphar advena; 2) slightly shallower margin dominated by Cephalanthus occidentalis and coarse graminoids; and 3) forested outer zone dominated by Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, Quercus palustris, and Carex barrattii. The plot captures vegetation of zone #3. Organic-rich soils are covered by deep Sphagnum. The habitat was flooded until early July. Very similar vegetation occurs near Horseshoe Swamp at Maple Flats, Augusta Co.