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
31
m
Field Height
2
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
10
%
Field Cover
5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Both structure and composition of vegetation resemble those of plot PEDL005P, but several differences are worthy of note. On this ridge crest Quercus alba replaces Q. montana as the principal canopy species; Q. montana, Q. rubra, Q. velutina, and Q. shumardii are all more minor overstory constituents. Canopy height is greater, as is that of interrupted subcanopy. Density of shrub layer is also less, thus giving stand more open appearance in understory and elevating slightly filtered light availability. Coarse woody debris still abounds, but cover of leaf litter is much higher and little mineral soil is exposed. Perhaps half the overstory trees are of sprout origin. Soil development here seems as much limited by shallow depth to bedrock as by bulk density.
Note: Cover of woody species by vertical stratum not recorded. Tree diameter data may be incomplete.
