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
33
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
15
%
Field Cover
35
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Resample of 11-year old permanent plot. A deer exclosure was constructed around the quadrat a short time before the resampling was conducted. Conditions have changed considerably since 2001. A large windthrow and the death of another overstory tree (still standing) have created a light gaps on the southeastern and southern sides of the plot. Some small saplings were also cut and minor trampling occurred during construction of the exclosure. The most obvious change is in the herbaceous flora, which in 2001 was dominated (10-25% cover) by Actaea racemosa. In 2012, this species had been reduced to <1% cover by heavy deer herbivory, and two forest graminoids (Dichanthelium boscii, Carex pensylvanica) had increased exponentially to take its place. Throughout the plot, low-cover herbs were reduced to small vegetative individuals of low vigor from repeated top-grazing. In addition, five weedy exotics that were not present in 2001 had appeared. At this point, all five occur at very low cover, but at least two (Alliaria petiolata and Microstegium vimineum) have the potential to become invasive and cover large areas.
2001 Quercus montana tag tree (56 cm DBH) windthrown 5-10 years ago, taking out the large redbud with it; the latter is resprouting from the base. A ~ 45 cm Quercus velutina snag is located on the east edge of the plot; this tree had 5-10% cover in the 2001 overstory. Since 2001, deer herbivory has increased tremendously.