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
31
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
60
%
Field Cover
8
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Mixed oak/ heath on upper slope of ridge. Plot is located in a broad upper slope / crest area in which Quercus coccinea dominates or co-dominates with Quercus montana. Throughout this area is abundant evidence of past cutting and fires. This is in contrast to the part of the stand represented by plot GFNP014, which was not cut or burned as recently. The plot-sampled stand currently has an overstory strongly dominated by Quercus coccinea and good recruitment of Quercus montana in the understory tree layers. The frequency of sapling Fagus grandifolia and Acer rubrum in the understory suggests a trend toward increasing mesophytism and fire exclusion.
