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
19
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
60
%
Shrub Cover
15
%
Field Cover
70
%
Nonvascular Cover
30
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot was positioned on a relatively steep upper slope just below an escarpment of ridge-capping sandstone outcrops. Boulders sloughed off this caprock are common throughout the plot and adjacent parts of the slope. Forest vegetation in this area was devastated by a massive outbreak of gypsy moth during a droughty period in the early 1990's, resulting in extensive mortality of chestnut and red oaks. A long, narrow plot configuration was used to avoid two large gaps overgrown with Rubus just downslope. In the plot, one large overstory oak (Quercus velutina) remains, and hickories and red oak have recruited into gaps left by several deceased chestnut oaks. Significant areas of mineral soil are present on the steep slope, contributing to microhabitat diversity, a corresponding diversity of low-cover xerophytic herbs, and locally abundant concentrations of the annuals Hedeoma pulegioides and Paronychia montana..
