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
31
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
95
%
Shrub Cover
10
%
Field Cover
60
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot captures a fairly typical Nyssa aquatica swamp that occupies an extensive backswamp along the Meherrin River. The sample is located about 40 m from the base of an impressive bluff at the back edge of the floodplain. Seasonal flooding from river flow inputs is obviously the primary hydrological regime, although groundwater seepage from the base of the bluff may locally contribute to the swamp. The overstory is strongly dominated by medium-size (up to 80 cm DBH) Nyssa aquatica, with scattered Nyssa biflora also present. Stand age was estimated by International Paper to be > 99 years. The open understory consists of young Nyssa aquatic recruitment and a scattering of Fraxinus caroliniana, Acer rubrum, and Liquidambar. The area we chose to sample has somewhat higher herb cover and greater herb diversity than many parts of the swamp; it is strongly dominated by a patch of Saururus cernuus but contains a number of low-cover hydrophytic forbs.
