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
12
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
0
m
Tree Cover
40
%
Shrub Cover
15
%
Field Cover
50
%
Nonvascular Cover
2
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot is located on the edge of a large depression pond within an extensive managed pine forest. This wetland is bordered by a road on a high berm, which appears to have impeded outflow and killed all the trees in the deeper, central part of the pond. The edges are still wooded and appear more natural than the center, which now supports dense herbaceous vegetation dominated by Eleocharis quadrangulata and other "draw-down" species. The sample was placed on the north edge. A linear configuration (10 x 40 m) was used to minimize inclusion of the disturbed center, but the associated herbaceous vegetation could not be entirely excluded. The sample has about 40% canopy cover by short, coppice-sprouted Nyssa biflora, with patches of shrubs occupying the rim and tree-base "islands." Water marks on the trees range from 30 to 45 cm above ground level.
