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
29
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
75
%
Shrub Cover
50
%
Field Cover
45
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
On this site, the Appalachian Trail crosses a low ridge of Ordovician limestone with a history of agricultural use. While the gentler top of the ridge is now covered by a post-clearing, monospecific stand of tulip-poplar, the steeper west side supports a medium-age mixed stand of sugar maple, oaks, and hickories. The plot is representative of this area and has high species-richness often associated with dry-mesic calcareous habitats. This forest was no doubt subject to livestock grazing, but the only signs of recent herbivory are those of white-tailed deer. Oaks appear to be declining in this stand, while both sugar maple and hickories exhibit plentiful recruitment.