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
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
38
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
10
%
Field Cover
20
%
Nonvascular Cover
5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Somewhat disturbed and relatively open stand of mixed Quercus, Pinus strobus and Fagus grandifolia on sheltered, northwest-facing slope. Several individuals of many species (Q. alba, Fagus, P. strobus) are in the 40-60 cm range, and no boles appear to be of sprout origin, which suggests that this stand has not been logged in the past century. Notably present here just north of the James River are Galax urceolata and Oxydendrum arboreum, two species characteristic of such habitats farther south but largely absent from the northern Blue Ridge. Relatively sparse and interrupted herb layer may reflect past disturbance. Otherwise, composition is similar to low elevation, xeric, infertile sites on the northern Blue Ridge.
Plot location was pre-selected by the project's stratified random sampling design.
Directions to plot and tagged tree:
From southernmost point of loop road through Otter Creek campground, proceed SSE ca. 200 m. Walk uphill, cross powerline ROW, cross narrow ravine, and descend SW-facing slope toward second ravine. Tagged tree is Quercus alba (58 cm dbh, tag # 416).
