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
18
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
75
%
Shrub Cover
80
%
Field Cover
40
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Resample of 13-year old permanent plot. Corners are now monumented with rebar stakes painted light blue.
Only minor changes have occurred since 2001 in this stand, which remains an extremely fire-suppressed, pine-dominated forest. A few smaller pitch pines have died and there is some noticeable die-back of Kalmia latifolia stems, although the cover of both species remains high. Some small (< 2.5 cm DBH) stems of both Fagus grandifolia and Acer rubrum are starting to become established. A tremendous build-up of dry, pine and ericaceous duff makes this stand highly susceptible to fires originating from lightning strikes or human-caused accidents.
