Intensive 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
1000
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
19
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
60
%
Shrub Cover
5
%
Field Cover
1
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot was sampled in an attempt to capture the classic live oak forest, with gnarled physiognomy and irregular, broad, rounded crowns. Although Quercus virginiana is ubiquitous at False Cape, robust trees with high cover seem to be relatively uncommon, at least along main road, and chiefly limited to the northern end of the park, as tree stature generally decreases toward the south. This stand represents the high live oak phase of the Pinus taeda / Quercus virginiana community type. Emergent P. taeda remains the overstory dominant, although the canopy is interrupted and crowns of the two tree species only partially overlap. This classic form of live oak seems to be restricted at False Cape to higher, more rolling topography, where microsites are presumably better drained or at least higher above the water table. Plot is uncomfortably close to main road; corner of module 6 only ca. 10 m from road edge. No evidence of gypsy moth and only minor hurricane damage. Irregular "pillars" of organic matter rise 5-10 cm above ground surface throughout plot. The origin of these features is unclear; they could represent old pine boles, where oak seeds germinated, but it is difficult to believe that they would still be evident, given apparent age of oaks.
Canopy height - 8.5 m (Q. virginiana), 19 m (P. taeda)
0 - ~5 - litter, duff and O horizon (in modules 8 and 9 O horizon is well-developed and dense in fine roots)
5 - ~25 - light gray to light brown, moist sand
25 - medium brown sand, becoming more moist with depth; saturated by 80 cm; near water table at 1 m
