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
23
m
Shrub Height
4
m
Field Height
7
m
Tree Cover
50
%
Shrub Cover
25
%
Field Cover
65
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot documents the largest of several small stands of open forest on a low, fluvial sand "ridge" bordering the tidal Potomac River. The dry oak-hickory vegetation is confined to the high points of the ridge, which has been breached by overwash at several low points. The sampled forest is quite disturbed by oak mortality of uncertain cause, dogwood anthracnose, and wind damage. These disturbances have opened up the canopy and presumably stimulated the rather dense, patchy growth of xerophytic herbs such as Dichanthelium boscii, Danthonia spicata, and Carex albicans var. australis. No live oaks remain within the plot boundary (Quercus alba, Q. falcata, and Q. stellata are present elsewhere in the stand), and hickories (Carya alba and C. cordiformis) now dominate. The continuing development of the stand should be a priority for future vegetation monitoring on the Chotank Creek preserve.