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
29
m
Shrub Height
3
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
20
%
Field Cover
40
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot is located in the same oak-hickory stand as BEDF002P but was placed at the toe of the ridge near the ravine mouth about 100 m to the north. Despite completely lacking the nutrient-demanding species of BEDF002P, the vegetation here is significantly more species-rich in all strata, with 41 woody plants and overall richness of 91 taxa / 400 sq.m. Composition is fairly classic for the mesic end of the acidic oak-hickory gradient. There are many downed trees in the area; two large white pines (one live, one recently deceased) are located just upslope but most of the slope is oak-hickory. Herb cover varies over the area, with greater cover near the base of the slope where soil moisture is greater. The shrub layer is open; Viburnum acerifolium, one of the more abundant shrubs, is heavily deer-browsed and now mostly < 0.5 m tall. To the north, the stand grades abruptly into a small forested seep that is adjacent to an alluvial field.
This plot is permanently monumented to enable long-term monitoring and re-sampling; see original plot form for diagram. A 40 cm black oak located 0.9 m west of the SW corner of the plot is marked with tree tag #467; a 20 cm black gum located 16.4 m east of the NW corner on the long, north-side boundary of the plot is marked with tree tag #481. Each corner is marked with a rebar stake painted white on top.
0-3 cm: loose deciduous leaf litter
3-9 cm: dark brown to medium brown clay loam with gravel and stones
9+ cm: yellow-brown clay loam with gravel and stones
small gravel at or close to soil surface throughout
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Open field just north of stand stand; deer browse, game trails, no exotics.