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
34
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
6
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
50
%
Field Cover
40
%
Nonvascular Cover
5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Resample of 13-year old permanent plot. Corners are now monumented with rebar stakes painted light blue.
On the May 29 sampling date, there was ample evidence of recent flash flooding in the stream bottom following heavy rains. The bottom was scoured of leaf litter, herbaceous plants were knocked over, and piles of flood-deposited woody debris were scattered through the area. Other than these rare and temporary flood impacts, the habitat and vegetation of this plot were very similar to that which were documented here thirteen years ago. Floristic composition, woody stem density, and total basal area are all very close between the two samples. Species richness of the 2014 sample is 12 taxa higher, but this is at least partly accounted for by a May sampling date during a wet spring (vs. July sampling date during a dry year). Remarkably, this is one of the few sites in which Microstegium vimineum has not increased in cover since 2001 (it was <1% cover in both samples).
