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
22
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
60
%
Field Cover
25
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Resample of 13-year old permanent plot. Corners are now monumented with rebar stakes painted light blue.
The only notable changes in this plot since 2001 are that one Pinus rigida, one Quercus montana, and many stems of Kalmia latifolia have died. Although it was not a dominant shrub species in 2001, the overall cover of Kalmia has declined from >5% to <1% in 2014. Stand basal area has increased considerably due to the diameter growth of the trees. There is little oak and no pine recruitment here, and the subcanopy continues to be dominated by Nyssa sylvatica, with some Acer rubrum and Fagus grandifolia also present. A larger number of sapling Fagus are invading the understory of this stand to the north of the plot. The entire stand is extremely fire-suppressed and could benefit from prescribed burning.
