NJ Natural Heritage Program, NJDEP Division of Parks and Forestry, Office of Natural Lands Management, 22 S. Clinton Ave, Plaza Bldg 4, Fl. 4, PO Box 404 Trenton, NJ, 08625-0404
GPS reading for plot corner: SW) 40.81126, -74.51229
Shape
Square
Area
400
m²
Permanence
permanent plot
Layout Narrative
Lat/Long is taken from NW corner of plot. Plot is 20x20 m. Transect endpoints are permanently marked with rebar. Distance and compass bearing measurements to the plot location with measurements of plot orientation off the transect were taken. GPS coordinates for corner(s) of the plot were taken with submeter accuracy.
Environment Fields:
Elevation
91.7
m
Slope Aspect
90
º
Topographic Position
Low level
Landscape Narrative
General Landscape Description: Floodplain forest on a low terrace on the E bank of the Whippany R. Floodplain is about 300' wide at its widest point before terminating at a slightly raised, paved trail. Soil at the time of the visit was dry and cracked, but mottles near (within 5 cm) the surface and the affinity of the species indicates that this floodplain is usually either wet or saturated. Shallow depressions filled with water-stained leaves and others densely vegetated by hydric forbs suggest that this community is frequently flooded.
Soil Texture: Organic - muck; Mineral - silt loam, silty clay loam
Overall Taxon Cover Values are Automatically Calculated?
no
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(1) occurrence plot: sufficient for determining type occurrence
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Dominant Stratum
Tree
Growthform1 Type
Trees
Growthform2 Type
Trees
Growthform3 Type
Herbs
Growthform1 Cover
70
%
Growthform2 Cover
60
%
Growthform3 Cover
80
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Community Type: non-tidal floodplain forest
General Description: Parched floodplain forest on the E bank of the Whippany R. Dominant trees are Fraxinus americana, Acer rubrum and Quercus palustris. Shrub layer is scanty except in open areas or along stream bank; most frequent species are Lindera benzoin, Rosa multiflora and Ilex verticillata. Herbaceous layer is thick with graminoids (Cinna arundinacea, Microstegium, Leersia virginica, Glyceria spp.) and in wetter depressions with Carices, especially C. grayii, C. crinita and C. lupulina. Forbs are mostly mixed Polygonums (no flowers). Small depressions which are not vegetated are filled with mud-stained leaves and have numerous exposed tree roots. There are piles of flood debris, mostly sticks and branches here and there. Floodplain ends at a more or less backswamp and paved trail - beyond is a fence. No disturbance except for trail. Vegetation and soils indicate that in a normal year, this floodplain would be quite wet. Soil is dried muck over silt loam with mottles found just below the surface and continuing throughout.; Community Description: Low flat floodplain forest on the E side of the NE-SW oriented Whippany R. Floodplain lies ~3-4' above the level of the stream. Several broad, shallow depressions, only a few inches below the level of the plot are filled with dense sedges and hydric forbs. A broad band of sedges lies about 100' E of the stream bank. Floodplain has a multi-layered herbaceous layer, with Lysimachia nummularia crawling along the bare ground, Polygonums forming the next layer, and tall grasses and sedges overtopping the others. Dominant tree species are Fraxinus americana, Acer rubrum and Quercus palustris. The latter two species tend to occupy the 'lower' spots and the Fraxinus tends to occupy the 'higher' (by a few inches) ground, but terrain is not hummocky. Shrubs are few, and most are severely browsed. Piles of flood debris, mainly sticks and branches, are found scattered throughout and are difficult to see as they are mostly concealed under the dense forb layers. Exposed soil is dry and cracked and many of the forbs are wilting. Soil is dried muck over silty clay loam which grows into silty clay. Mottles are found just below the surface. There is no disturbance in the plot. Paved path at E edge of floodplain has probably affected hydrology slightly. Occasional patches of bare soil are formed where there should be standing water.
General Comments: Many trees have lost their low branches, especially Fraxinus americana. Actual canopy begins very high up.; Deer, garter snake, turkey present.
mottles just below muck, dark gray matrix 5 YR 4/1 with small red 5 YR 4/6 mottles, silt loam
B
23
m
35
m
texture change to silty clay loam
B
35
m
53
m
pH at 38 cm = 5.3, gray 10 YR 6/1 mottles and red 5 YR 4/6 mottles; matrix becomes gray 10 YR 6/1 with red 5 YR 4/6 mottles and occasional light gray 10 YR 7/1 inclusions; pH at 53 cm = 5.3; rock at 53 cm
