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
10
m
Shrub Height
4
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
15
%
Shrub Cover
60
%
Field Cover
20
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot captures diverse shrub-scrub vegetation dominated by Alnus serrulata with several scattered, emergent stems of Nyssa biflora. This community forms a mosaic with high marsh dominated by Spartina cynosuroides and Zizania aquatica. Alnus is already largely senescent, which hinders estimation of cover. Polygonum arifolium forms dense networks around the bases of Alnus clumps. It is not obvious whether such behavior represents a response to disturbance, but the entire site appears to have been recently disturbed. In particular Mikania scandens, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis and Toxicodendron radicans seem especially adventitious. High understory biomass could simply reflect increased light levels following stress and mortality of overstory Nyssa. Species observed just outside the plot include Sambucus canadensis, Carex crinita and Clethra acuminata.
0 - 1 - leaf litter and some light brown silt
1 - 4 - dark, loose organic matter with some silt
4-15 - lighter silt with considerable organic matter; silt and clay content increase with depth