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
30
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
40
%
Field Cover
1
%
Nonvascular Cover
5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Multi-aged stand of Quercus velutina, Q. alba, and Tsuga canadensis on steep upper slope above Chopawamsic Creek. Quercus and Carya trees posed identification problems. Individuals identified as Q. velutina appear to have some rubra genes, and putative Carya ovata would be a record for Prince William County. It is unclear what roles ice storms or infestation by gypsy moth and hemlock woolly adelgid may have played; tree mortality seems to have occurred at least 5-10 years ago, coarse woody debris abounds, but no large extant gaps are present. Soil is shallow and rocky, particularly on upper side of plot. Many of the species characteristic of the lower, steeper portion of the bank are absent from the plot, which instead captures vegetation more characteristic of the ridgetop.
From Quercus alba in module 10 (90 cm dbh; adjacent to Tsuga canadensis): 4.7 m @ 198 deg to Stake A.
0 - 10 - light gray to light brown, unconsolidated silty loam
10 - 25 - silty clay loam
25 - almost pure clay, oxidized, not especially friable
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Stand has experienced considerable disturbance. Large Liriodendron tulipifera is missing a major limb, some snags are present, and there are several large downed boles.
