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
200
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
11
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
60
%
Shrub Cover
90
%
Field Cover
10
%
Nonvascular Cover
10
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: crest of High Acre Ridge, 0.38 km N of the summit. Marked with a metal tree tag. See form/report for sketch. Rock types present: quartzite debris.
For practical reasons, this dense, scrubby woodland of Pinus pungens, Quercus montana, and mixed heath shrubs was sampled with a 200 squared meter (14 X 14.3 m) plot. The site is a narrow, rocky ridge top with a history of multiple disturbances, including frequent or severe fires and southern pine beetle outbreaks. Vegetation here is very stunted (ca. 11-12 m maximum height), and nearly impenetrable (80-100% cover) shrub thickets of Kalmia latifolia prevail in most spots. The plot was positioned in a small area where the mountain-laurel was slightly less dense (ca. 65-70% cover), permitting sampling protocols to be undertaken. Because of xeric, oligotrophic soil environments and dense competition from shrubs, herbaceous plants are almost entirely absent from this site.
