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
32
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
45
%
Field Cover
40
%
Nonvascular Cover
60
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Vegetation in this plot is a Nyssa sylvatica - dominated swamp forest in a slightly concave bench below a saddle on the Kelly Knob ridge. Two areas that resemble ponds and have longer flooding regimes are located within a much larger, sphagnous forested flat. The area narrows into a small, intermittent drainage downslope. The wetland habitat grades abruptly into oak-hickory and oak/heath forest on adjacent slopes. Trees are generally rooted on sphagnous hummocks. No standing water was present at time of survey, but it was obvious that the two more deeply ponded areas had recently drawn down. Sphagnum spp. dominate the bryophyte layer. An exceptional specimen of Nyssa sylvatica 96 cm DBH, 32 m tall, and with an average crown spread of 14.7 m, is located within the plot.
0-10+ cm: medium brown silty clay with orange mottling;
sample collected from distinct depression/pond within forest, where mineral soil was exposed and hydroperiod is longer; slightly elevated areas elsewhere in the plot are covered in peat/root mat over deep organic soil..
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Minor herbivory on Osmunda cinnamomea. A few gypsy moths were present on adjacent oaks.
