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 Cover
40
%
Shrub Cover
10
%
Field Cover
90
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot represents an open, Salix nigra-dominated community occurring in an elongated, seasonally flooded depression between the White Hills dunes and one of the B Pool impoundments. Although located near the edge of the impoundment, the habitat and vegetation are apparently natural. Because of the open tree stand, a sparsity of shrubs, and an abundance of herbaceous species, the community has a woodland physiognomy but grades into vegetation with significantly denser canopy and shrub (Myrica cerifera) strata. Although Salix is generally a temporary invader of disturbed wetland habitats, future successional trends in this stand are not yet clear.
Plot located in wet swale just northwest of B Pool North, 0.32 mi northeast of junction of Wildlife Drive and service road to the northern end of the refuge.
0 - 1 - mucky peat and litter
1 - 10 - dark, organically enriched sand
10+ - wet gray sand
24 - water table (on 10 September 1996)
On 12 September 1996, following heavy rains, the entire plot area was under 10-15 cm of water.
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Several blowdowns; fall webworms abundant and most Salix nearly defoliated.
