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
800
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
5
m
Tree Cover
85
%
Shrub Cover
25
%
Field Cover
60
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
A small floodplain along the Po River, ca. 200 meters wide with seasonally flooded depressions and alluvial levees. The plot captures the wettest portion of the floodplain, along the back edge where it is influenced by seepage from the adjacent slope as well as by overland flooding and standing water in depressions. The hydrology could be considered a "hybrid" between seasonally and temporarily flooded. A 0.1 ha plot was used to capture the canopy and microtopographic diversity. There are small areas with the non-native, invasive Microstegium vimineum and some Lonicera japonica, but the floodplain flora is largely native and intact. The plot contains a mixed overstory of medium-sized Quercus phellos, Q. michauxii, Q. palustris, Liriodendron tulipifera, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Carya cordiformis. Carpinus caroliniana is the most important understory species, while hydrophytic sedges are prevalent in the patchy herb layer. Elevated areas of this floodplain and those areas near the river bend support well-drained Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest with Fagus grandifolia, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Quercus rubra.
0-4 cm loose leaf litter
4-10+cm (on elevated area) - medium brown clay loam
_______
4-10+ cm (in depression) gray clay with orange mottling
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Overland flooding evident by large accumulations of flood debris. There is an old ditch in plot and low cover by exotics, 2 dead Betula nigra in plot. Light deer browse.