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
20
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
80
%
Field Cover
85
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This site supports a somewhat transitional stand of northern red oak forest on a the upper slope of the main Iron Mountain ridge near Comers Rock, elevation ca. 3800 ft. Although Quercus rubra greatly dominates the stand, some Q. montana and abundant Leucothoe recurva, both more characteristic of oak/heath forests, are also present. Many sprouts of Castanea dentata are present, suggesting that this species was a major associate of the oaks prior to the arrival of the blight. There is a modest amount of red oak recruitment at present, although younger Acer rubrum and Pinus strobus appear to be actively invading the stand.
0-5 cm: leaf litter
5-10 cm: OM / roots / black organic soil
10-12 cm: black organic soil with gravel and stones
12+ cm: yellow-brown clay loam with coarse sand
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Old chestnut debris and chestnut sprouts present. Old cut stumps (chestnut salvage?) present. The single Tsuga canadensis in plot appeared healthy. Pinus strobus saplings appeared sickly.
