Upslope the forest is younger and dominated by Sugar Maple/Cinna latifolia - Ageratina altissima. Downslope the forest is mostly Oak - Hickory with very little wood regen or herb layer. The area is managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. To the N & S the forest appears similar at least as far as I can see.;Large patch of Oak - Hickory/Sugar Maple forest. Much of the area has been heavily browsed by deer. The forest is slightly younger here than downslope. However, there is more of an herb layer at this site. The plot is located on a SW facing ridge "nose".
Representativeness
Plot represents a large patch of Quercus rubra - Carya ssp./Acer saccharum forest. The plot was placed to sample an area with some herbaceous vegetation.