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
7
m
Tree Cover
85
%
Shrub Cover
80
%
Field Cover
70
%
Nonvascular Cover
0
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot is situated in a narrow floodplain adjacent to the Roanoke River, just below the Kerr Reservoir dam. A series of steep bluffs borders the floodplain to the south. The area selected for the sample has a lower cover by exotic species than the surrounding floodplain. On the date of this survey, the early spring flora was still apparent, but fading. The stand is characterized by high woody diversity and a dense shrub layer of Aesculus sylvatica, Asimina triloba, Lindera benzoin, other shrubs, and tree saplings.
0-3 cm loose deciduous leaf litter
3-10+cm medium brown to reddish-brown clay loam
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
The natural flooding regime is altered by the nearby dam. The sample includes a foot trail along the river's edge. Many exotic plant species are present.