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
32
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
75
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
10
%
Field Cover
70
%
Nonvascular Cover
2
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The habitat is a slough along the lower portion of Antioch Swamp, ca. 700 meters upstream of its confluence with the Blackwater River and adjacent to an upland slope. This site was mostly drawn down on the survey date; it is probably flooded during the winter and spring but mostly exposed during the growing season. A relatively narrow plot configuration was used to maintain environmental homogeneity and to capture the representative diversity of trees, which include Taxodium distichum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus laurifolia, Q. lyrata, Nyssa biflora, N. aquatica, Ulmus americana, and Betula nigra. Trees are buttressed, and there is considerable regeneration of Taxodium and Quercus spp. in the 0-0.5 m stratum. The shrub layer is rather sparse, but the herb layer is well-developed with a mixture of hydrophytic sedges, forbs, and "draw-down" species.
0-10+ cm dark brown silt with sand
[sandy clay deeper in profile (seen on root ball of fallen tree)]
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Murdannia keisak forms large patches in adjacent area of the swamp. Flood debris. Deer browse on Smilax and Itea. Bases of sweetgum are stripped by beavers (old damage)
