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
33
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
20
%
Field Cover
30
%
Nonvascular Cover
4
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: property of Arlington Outdoor Education Association on west slope of Pond Mountain, 2.51 km S of Thoroughfare Gap. Not permanently marked. Rock types present: small quartzite debris.
Although the bedrock geology of this sampling site is mapped as the Catoctin Formation, field observations and soil chemistry data suggest that underlying Catoctin bedrock is covered to some degree by more acidic, metasedimentary colluvium from the Weaverton Formation. Nevertheless, the species-rich oak-hickory forest of this slope is similar to vegetation that characterizes the Watery Mountains and other nearby areas underlain by base-saturated Catoctin Formation metabasalt. This site is located near an extensive area of abandoned fields and early-successional forests, and may have been cleared, or at least grazed by livestock, in the past. The following plants were noticeably damaged by herbivory: Carex digitalis var. digitalis, Carex laxiflora, Cornus florida, Hylodesmum nudiflorum, Eutrochium purpureum var. purpureum, and Geranium maculatum.
Soil Nutrient Status: medium.
Duff layer variable, from none to ca. 2 cm.
Humus layer none to <1cm.
A = Reddish-brown loam/silt loam with many stones.
Physical Analysis (A-Horizon): 5% clay, 49% silt, 46% sand.
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Light deer grazing. One chestnut stump and several dogwood snags in plot.