Surrounding is a large relatively unfragmented (with same gas wells and ROWs) tract of deciduous forest in the interior (no public vehicle access) of WMA.;Closed canopy young hickory forest, successional with deer herbivory pressure. Shrub/sapling layer is sparse and herb layer is sparse. 200 m southeast of plot is a southeast - facing cove with larger (50 cm dbh) trees and more diversity (similar species but add large black oak, beech, and black walnut).
Representativeness
Plot was placed to sample closed canopy forest on convex N facing upper shoulder of ridge. Nearby stands are either similar to this, younger (pole-sized), or (in cove areas) trees are larger.