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 Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
10
%
Field Cover
70
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
A swamp forest characterized by hummock-and-hollow microtopography, a canopy of large Acer rubrum and an abundance of water-tolerant forbs and graminoids. Conditions in this wetland appear to be relatively eutrophic and surficial muck is relatively deep in the hollows. The swamp occupies a narrow, elongate depression bordered by pine and pine-oak forest on higher, sandy ground. Acer rubrum forest is the characteristic vegetation throughout, but blowdowns and extensive mortality of adjacent Pinus taeda (from pine beetle infestation) have created rather open canopy conditions in some parts of the swamp.
Pinus taeda, Sassafras albidum, Chasmanthium laxum, Mitchella repens, Hypericum hypericoides and Erechtites hieraciifolia are confined to drier, marginal hummocks.
Plot located in swampy depression just north of Woodland Trail at a point ca. 0.3 mi west of parking area and 1.0 mi SSW of Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge office.
