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
1000
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
2
m
Tree Cover
60
%
Shrub Cover
20
%
Field Cover
5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This stand of loblolly pine and hydrophytic oaks is characteristic of the forested vegetation of upland fingers between low salt marsh and open water at Catlett Islands. The oak component is higher in the plot than on most of this island; the plot was also located to avoid treefall gaps presumably created by Hurricane Isabel in September 2003. The vegetation here is also relatively open; to the east density of Vitis increases appreciably. Several snags of Prunus and Sassafras are present in plot. Microtopographic variation is locally noticeable and may represent a legacy of former tip-up mounds and downed boles. The classification of this vegetation is perplexing. The soil evidently has wetland characteristics and the water table may be tidally influenced, but it is unlikely that surface water ever accumulates in this stand. Compositionally the vegetation has affinities to maritime upland forests, maritime wet pine forests and non-riverine saturated forests.
0 - 2 - leaf litter, primarily pine needles (litter considerably thicker where Ilex opaca foliage accumulates)
2 - 8 - O horizon: moist duff and partially decomposed leaves
8 - 19 - moist, coarse loamy sand, very dark gray and evidently reduced
19 - 75 - moist, coarse sand, medium to light brown; less organic matter
~60 - near water table; soil becomes somewhat gleyed, but still medium brown
~75 - abrupt transition to oxidized sandy clay
