Intensive 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
1000
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
40
m
Shrub Height
2
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
5
%
Field Cover
60
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Somewhat disturbed and open stand of very large-statured trees on nearly flat lower slope above an intermittent tributary of Chotank Creek. The stature of trees - especially height but also girth - and the intactness and richness of the herb layer - both for this site in particular and the northern Coastal Plain in general - are noteworthy. Compositional data were not collected when this plot was sampled in September 2002 because considerable senescence (most evidently of Thelypteris noveboracensis) had already occurred. Rubus phoenicolasius and Microstegium vimineum, both of which form large dominance patches along an old road upslope, have invaded portions of this stand. Virtual absence of trees < 15 m tall (except for a few individuals of Ilex opaca and Fagus grandifolia) suggests heavy deer browse. Coarse woody debris consists primarily of small branches and limbs, although some larger material, including downed boles, is present outside plot upslope. Overstory crowns exhibit little obvious damage from disturbance. Herb cover increases at far end of plot (chiefly module 4) - especially of Brachyelytrum erectum, Thelypteris, and Polystichum acrostichoides - but is substantially lower beneath dense Ilex shade in module 7.
