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
1000
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
33
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
15
%
Field Cover
70
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot was located on the southeast side of Dumpling Island, an unusual 10-acre shell-based island in the Nansemond River. The sample captures the least disturbed part of the island's forest, and represents an unusual assemblage of plants for the Coastal Plain. The soil is rich in shell deposits, some of the exposed at the ground surface. Vegetation is an open forest dominated by mature Quercus muhlenbergii, with smaller-diameter Acer floridanum and Celtis laevigata in the sub-canopy. The shrub layer is very open, although thickets of Callicarpa americana dominate elsewhere on the island. The herb layer, dominated by Smallanthus uvedalius and, to a lesser extent, Verbesina occidentalis, will be tall and rank later in the growing season. No oak regeneration was noted, and deer herbivory is heavy.
