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:
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
1
m
Shrub Cover
85
%
Field Cover
30
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot documents a very dense, Myrica pensylvnanica-dominated dune shrubland. Due to the near-impenetrable nature of the vegetation, the long axis of the plot was positioned at the edge of the community, where it abruptly meets the bayside dune grassland, and a linear configuration (10 x 40 m) was used to minimize the amount of penetration into the scrub. Although Myrica greatly dominates, intermixed saplings of Prunus serotina and Diospyros virginiana also have significant cover. Most of the herbaceous species occur around the open edge, although a few occur in the shade beneath the shrubs.
