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
6
m
Tree Cover
75
%
Shrub Cover
40
%
Field Cover
15
%
Nonvascular Cover
45
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Small stand of Picea rubens-dominated forest on north-facing upper slope of Sounding Knob, elev. ca. 4260 ft. Similar in structure and composition to plot sampled by Rawinski in 1991, whose location was nearby but not precisely recorded. Since the location of 1991 sample is uncertain, this new, better geo-referenced is considered a duplicate. The part of this slope with red spruce is somewhat variable in floristic composition and substrate. This plot captures an area containing heavy spruce regeneration and less exposed boulder cover than downslope. Bazzania trilobata is common along with other bryophytes on rocks, exposed roots, and exposed organic matter. Kalmia latifolia persists, despite notable die-back as observed in 1983 by Adams and Stephenson. Spruce are healthy and show no unusual mortality. There are two large hemlock snags (> 50 cm) in plot.
0-3 cm: leaf litter, variable depth and composition, both needles and deciduous
3-15 cm: dark black organic soil
15+ cm: dark brown to gray-brown fine sandy loam with many stones
A
15.88
%
3.6
20.69
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Some Kalmia die-back. Logged ca. 100 years ago (acc. to Adams and Stephenson). Two > 50 cm DBH hemlock snags present in plot.
