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
19
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
30
%
Field Cover
7
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Resample of 13-year old permanent plot. Corners are now monumented with rebar stakes painted light blue.
Data collected in 2014 reflects very little change from conditions in 2001. No major tree losses occurred, and the growth of woody stems on this very dry site has been great enough to boost total basal area by more than 20%. The density of measureable (>2.5 cm DBH) Kalmia latifolia stems has also increased markedly, and new saplings of Acer rubrum and Nyssa sylvatica have become established in the plot. The nature of future disturbances will determine the successional trajectory of the stand. There is enough young Quercus montana recruitment present that a severe outbreak of southern pine beetles could hasten the transition from a pine-oak to a predominantly oak overstory. The stand is obviously quite fire-suppressed, and prescribed burning would likely encourage recruitment of Pinus rigida.
