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:
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
30
%
Field Cover
5
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Little Laurel Run and its tributaries encompasses several miles of virgin/old growth forest. This plot represents one of the most impressive and densely stocked stands. It is an ecological treasure. Nutrient regime is submesotrophic apparently because a vernal stream enters the stream bottom here, bringing extra moisture and presumably nutrients. Pinus strobus is rather abundant along this bouldery stream terrace. I suspect that these trees are of similar age and became established following a particularly severe flood which wiped out the preexisting forest and created an open habitat suitable for pine establishment. Intermediate size/age classes of Pinus strobus are simply lacking here, suggesting episodic reproduction following catastrophic disturbance. The perennially open stream channel allows a modest amount of extra light to reach into the boulder terrace. This extra light may contribute to the success of Pinus strobus here and explain why most of the trees are immediately adjacent to the channel. The huge Tsuga canadensis grows on the slope of an upper terrace, and this tree could have survived a major flood. Its age may be 300-400 years.
Plot located on bouldery stream terrace on west side of Little Laurel Run, at or near the letter "L" of the word "Little" as shown on 1967 USGS quadrangle.
