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
34
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
4
%
Field Cover
70
%
Nonvascular Cover
6
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The valley of Laurel Prong above Camp Hoover once supported a mixed, mesophytic forest in which Tsuga canadensis was an abundant component with various hardwoods. Presently, the area has suffered nearly 100% mortality of Tsuga from outbreaks of hemlock woolly adelgid over the past 15 years, and is choked with downed wood and dense regeneration of maples, birches, and other hardwoods. This plot is located on the north flank of the hollow, where Tsuga was generally important in all tree strata. However, it was placed in a rocky area on the lower slope where large Liriodendron tulipifera, Pinus strobus, and Betula lenta dominate, and Tsuga was present only in the understory. Tsuga formerly had approximately 50% cover in the understory of this site. As a result of its demise, the understory and shrub layers are now very open, and increased ground-level illumination appears to have stimulated the germination of huge numbers of hardwood (Acer rubrum, Betula lenta, and Fraxinus americana) seedlings. The herbaceous flora is well developed and dominated by species typical of acidic coves (e.g., Viola blanda, Mitchella repens, Maianthemum canadense), with a few nutrient-demanding species (e.g., Laportea canadensis, Cimicifuga racemosa, Caulophyllum thalictroides) present at low cover.