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
30
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
40
%
Field Cover
1
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: steep bluff along south side of Little River, ca. 0.47 km SW of US Rt. 50 bridge in Aldie. Not permanently marked. No surface rocks in plot; large quartzite outcrops just downstream.
The habitat and mixed hemlock-hardwood forest of this plot are unique in the Bull Run Mountains. The sampling site encompasses part of a steep, north- to northwest-facing bluff resulting from downcutting by the Little River as it subtends the north end of the mountain. Large, weathered quartzite outcrops punctuate the bluff and a cool, sheltered microclimate prevails, providing optimal conditions for a large population of Tsuga canadensis. The forest overstory is generally co-dominated by Tsuga canadensis, Quercus montana, Quercus rubra, and some Fagus grandifolia. Dense Tsuga canadensis dominates the understory. The exotic insect pest hemlock wooly adelgid is now present at moderate levels and has caused mortality of scattered trees.
