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
3
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
95
%
Shrub Cover
75
%
Field Cover
12
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot is located at the edge of an extensive back swamp on the Nottoway River, just east of the General Vaughn (US 258) bridge and DGIF boat launch. Based on observations during several visits, this habitat appears to have at least some standing water year-round. On the survey date, water up to ca. 25 cm deep covered most of the hollows despite weeks of summer drought. It is also possible that this swamp may be flooded on rare occasions by wind tides that push upstream from Albemarle Sound on strong, southeasterly breezes. However, this site would be at the upstream limits of such wind tides, and a levee between the swamp and the river would limit such events to the most extreme, high-tide events, at least in the back end of the swamp where the plot is located. The forest at this site appears to be relatively young and even-aged; Nyssa aquatica strongly dominates, with Taxodium distichum scattered throughout the stand. Fraxinus caroliniana strongly dominates the understory, while herbs are somewhat sparse.
