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
7
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
1
%
Shrub Cover
40
%
Field Cover
10
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot documents a patchy shrubland on secondary dunes ca. 100 m from the Chesapeake Bay beach. Patches of Prunus serotina (extensively damaged by salt spray) and Myrica cerifera are interspersed with open sand supporting typical dune herbs and grasses. Saplings of Pinus taeda, Quercus nigra, Q. falcata, and Sassafras albidum are invading the habitat, but it remains to be seen whether they will persist or be extirpated by storm surges and salt spray.