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:
Tree Height
16
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
60
%
Shrub Cover
20
%
Field Cover
30
%
Nonvascular Cover
70
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
There is no singularly satisfying plot layout for sampling the vegetation of this sinkhole pond, which exhibits pronounced zonation corresponding to depth and duration of inundation. The approach adopted was to establish a single 0.1 ha plot confined to the wetland but spanning a portion of the hydrologic gradient, with the near end of the plot at the drier end and the center and far end in the truly hydric portion of the pond. The focal modules were split into two pairs of adjacent modules (1 and 10, 4 and 7), which capture the two principal patch types present. What is not as well represented is the upland edge characterized by Vaccinium fuscatum, Gaylussacia frondosa, and Lyonia ligustrina. Considerable mortality, presumably caused by defoliation by gypsy moth, has occurred in adjacent upland terrain. There are a few snags of Acer rubrum and one large downed bole present in plot. The only surface water present at the time of sampling occupies ca. 50 sq. m beyond far end of plot.
Surface substrate percentages do not sum to unity because large area in the center of the plot is covered by nothing other than Sphagnum. Soil data represent averages of two samples obtained from two focal areas of plots.
0 - 1 - litter and Sphagnum
1 - 2 - O horizon: rich in partially decomposed organic matter; fairly coarse
2 - organic-rich, light to dark gray, mucky clay; water table encountered by 15 cm in module 7 and impenetrable rock at 60 cm in module 1
Upper
