Comprehensive View of a Plot
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B2 - Wickecheoke North
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» Citation URL: http://vegbank.org/cite/urn:lsid:vegbank.org/vegbranch:observation:61-{54DD4E65-2476-4B5B-BB89-7CC59EA3F019}
» Citing info |
| Plot ID Fields: | |
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Author Plot Code  |
B2 - Wickecheoke North
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| Author Observation Code |
B2 - Wickecheoke North
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| Original Data Location |
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
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| Location Fields: |
MAP:
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| Yahoo
| TopoZone
| MapQuest
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| Confidentiality Status |
exact location
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| Latitude |
40.45996
º
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| Longitude |
-74.96978
º
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| Author Location |
Wickecheoke Creek at Sergeantsville North
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| Location Narrative |
From covered bridge W of Sergeantsville, go N immediately W of the bridge (Upper Creek Rd.). Go 1.25 mi to #56 Upper Creek Rd. Take driveway to end (see owner). From mowed field adjacent to house, go to the NW side of field and go downhill into the floodplain.
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| State or Province |
New Jersey
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| Country |
United States
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| Named Places |
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| Layout Fields: | |
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| Shape |
Rectangular
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| Area |
400
m²
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| Permanence |
permanent plot
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| Layout Narrative |
Latitude/longitude coordinates taken from approximate plot center.
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| Environment Fields: | |
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| Elevation |
85.6
m
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| Slope Aspect |
315
º
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| Slope Gradient |
1.5
º
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| Topographic Position |
Low level
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| Rock Type |
shale, unspecified
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| Landscape Narrative |
General Landscape Description: Floodplain forest lying at the base of a rocky mesic slope to the SW, and extending to Wickecheoke Creek. On the streamside edge of the floodplain lies a rocky herbaceous streamside community. Terrain has some bedrock and many large rocks exposed. Forb and shrub communities are scanty, especially in the deep shade. Dominant trees are Quercus alba (very old and big) which form an emergent strata over Acer saccharum. Near the poorly defined transition zone between floodplain and mesic forest, other hardwood species are mixed in, as well as some shrubs (Lindera benzoin), herbs, and common ferns.
Soil Texture: Organic - peat; Mineral - sandy loam
Von Post scale of peat decomposition: H8
Organic Horizon type: Mull
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| Hydrologic Regime |
Seasonally flooded
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| Soil Moisture Regime |
xeric
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| Soil Drainage |
well drained
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| Water Depth |
0
m
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| Percent Bedrock |
5
%
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| Percent Rock / Gravel |
30
%
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| Percent Wood |
1
%
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| Percent Litter |
25
%
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| Percent Bare Soil |
1
%
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| Stand Maturity |
Mature, even-age
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| Successional Status |
stable
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| Methods Fields: | |
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| Observation Start Date |
16-Jul-2005
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| Observation End Date |
16-Jul-2005
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| Project |
NJ Mark Wong
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| Cover Method |
Domin Cover Scale
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| Stratum Method |
National Park Service
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| Taxon Observation Area |
400
m²
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| Cover Dispersion |
entire
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| Overall Taxon Cover Values are Automatically Calculated? |
no
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| Plot Quality Fields: | |
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| Plot Validation Level |
(1) occurrence plot: sufficient for determining type occurrence
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| Overall Plot Vegetation Fields: | |
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| Dominant Stratum |
Tree
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| Misc Fields: | |
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| Observation Narrative |
Community Type: non-tidal floodplain forest
General Description: Floodplain forest on rocky terrain along the W bank of Wickecheoke Creek. Emergent trees are very large Quercus alba. Canopy and understory trees are all Acer saccharum. Shrub layer is very thin (Lindera benzoin) as is the forb layer. Dominant species is seedlings of Acer saccharum growing in thick leaf litter over rocks. S along the stream is an open floodplain, once tree dominated, but now densely covered by a lush growth of Microstegium vimineum, Rosa multiflora, Lindera and other forbs under standing dead or fallen trees (mostly elms). Beyond this open area is a Tsuga canadensis-Acer saccharum-Quercus alba floodplain forest. Land to the W of the floodplain gradually gives way to a mesic forested slope which continues uphill and levels off at a mowed field at the top. Evidence of flooding increases to the S. In the N end, there is little recent evidence. Floodplain is bordered by a rocky slope that goes down to the level of the stream on the E.
Community Description: Soil deficient floodplain forest, growing on a thin layer of soil and rocks, on the W bank of Wickecheoke Creek. Vegetation consists mostly of trees (Acer saccharum, Quercus alba) and little else. Dominant low vegetation is Acer saccharum seedlings. To the E, floodplain is bordered by a rocky slope, vegetated mostly by weedy species going down to the stream edge. To the W is a mesic slope, also rocky, but with enough soil to sustain herbaceous and shrub layers as well as trees. Floodplain forest is densely shaded, with almost 100% cover from the various strata. Where there are openings, understory species have flourished. To the S of the plot, about half of the trees have died (quite a few elms with other species unidentifiable). In the open floodplain, invasive species abound, especially Microstegium vimineum and Rosa multiflora. No recent evidence of flooding can be seen in the floodplain but some smaller debris piles are seen along the rocky bank. Many large convoluted tree roots, exposed along the bank, indicate that there has been serious flooding/erosion in the past. Soil is very dark brown humus (5 cm) over dark brown sandy loam with bits of organic matter (to 15 cm).
General Comments: Unsuitable for most species. Community is more xeric in nature than adjacent (uphill) mesic forest despite its location.
Green frog, great-crested flycatcher, daddy longlegs (100s of them), and young white-tailed deer present.
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| Observation Contributors: |
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| Party | Role |
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LK
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Plot author
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| Soil Observations: |
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| Soil Horizon | Soil Depth Top | Soil Depth Bottom | Soil Color | Soil Organic | Soil Texture | Soil Sand | Soil Silt | Soil Clay | Soil Coarse | Soil PH | Exchange Capacity | Base Saturation | Soil Description |
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O
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0
m
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3
m
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|
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leaf litter
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O
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3
m
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8
m
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organic, very dark brown, well decomposed, 7.5 YR 2.5/3, many fine roots, pH at 5 cm = 6.8
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A
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8
m
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20
m
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organics and sandy loam with frequent pebbles, 7.5 YR 3/3, pH at 10 cm = 6.4; rock at 20 cm
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| Disturbance Data: |
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| Disturbance Type | Disturbance Intensity |
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Other disturbances
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Low
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Human, general
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Erosion
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| User Defined Values |
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| No User Defined Data for this plot |
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