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
31
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
95
%
Shrub Cover
20
%
Field Cover
5
%
Nonvascular Cover
4
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Resample of 13-year old permanent plot. Corners are now monumented with rebar stakes painted light blue.
Since 2001, three of the six Quercus montana in this plot have died, and this species appears to be on the decline. On the other hand, the larger Quercus rubra, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Betula lenta trees in the plot have grown considerably. Shrub and herb composition has changed considerably in the last thirteen years. Stem density of Rhododendron periclymenoides, the dominant shrub in 2001, has declined by almost 50%, and deer have browsed this species heavily up to about two meters in height. While not a dominant shrub, Kalmia latifolia has also declined and now exhibits the branch die-back that has been observed widely in the Bull Run Mountain area. Vaccinium pallidum has been reduced in stature in cover since 2001 by heavy browsing, and Vaccinium stamineum (1-2% cover in 2001) has been extirpated. The herb layer has been affected by deer browse, as well as changes in the physical environment, and has experienced considerable species turnover. In 2001, 25% of the surface substrate was exposed mineral soil, all of which had become covered by a mantle of duff and leaf litter by 2014. Fifteen herb/woody seedling pecies present in 2001were not present in 2014, while fifteen others were newly recorded; 22 herb/woody seedling species occurred in both samples.
