Outside burn the forest has similar canopy composition but there is a dense tall shrub layer of Lindera and Asimina. Over the slope break is a forest dominated by Quercus prinus with an understory burn, now dominated by Ageratina altissima.;Nearly flat bench at edge of a steep break to the Shenandoah River. Residual soil derived from Weaverton quartzite, but with field measured pH of 6.5, supports a forest dominated by Quercus alba and Fraxinus americana (compare to plot HAFE.47 on dolomite). Area was recently burned, possibly due to ignition from a nearby hobo camp ("Old Milwaukee"). Three years growth on Lindera saplings may be evidence of date of fire. Burn killed the shrub layers and a couple trees but canopy is more or less intact. Understory in burned area is now dominated by Ageratina altissima and weeds but has higher forb diversity compared to the shrub jungle outside of the burn. Large ash and oak throughout the area are obviously from stump sprouts; the area was probably logged more than once. Area recieves heavy noise pollution from hiway traffic.
Representativeness
Plot represents a small patch of recent burn. Canopy is similar outside burn but there is a canopy of spicebush and paw paw which is absent in the burn area. Sampled for reference of different burn regime which may also relate to shrub proliferation due t
