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
800
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
34
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
8
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
12
%
Field Cover
75
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot documents swamp forest vegetation in a shallow swale situated between an upland slope and an elevated terrace at the back edge of the Blackwater River floodplain, ca. 140 meters from the main river channel. Water marks on trees at 40 cm indicate seasonal flooding, but the typical hydroperiod is difficult to assess. It appears this habitat is flooded for significant periods during the winter and spring, but exposed for much of the summer. Although the vegetation is not species-rich, an 800 square meter plot was sampled to capture the full diversity of trees, ten species of which occur in the canopy and/or sub-canopy. The dominant species of the overall stand are are Quercus laurifolia and Taxodium distichum (overstory), Acer rubrum (understory), and Carex louisianica (herb layer).
