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
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Field Height
2
m
Field Cover
95
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This portion of the interior of Gleason Marsh consists of a complex mosaic of vegetation without obvious zonation patterns. The one exception is low-statured vegetation along geomorphologically subtle drainage channels, where Pontederia cordata, Nuphar advena, and short Acorus calamus predominate. Acorus appears to be the leading dominant throughout the mosaic, but its associates vary. This plot captures three clumps of Hibiscus moscheutos, the dominance of which is highest upstream of transect #1. Plot location represents a tradeoff between capturing some of the Hibiscus and remaining close to the transect. In contrast dominance by Zizaniopsis miliacea is greater on the downstream side. Most of the Acorus is heavily matted down, although young culms ca. 20 cm tall abound. Estimates of Acorus and total cover may consequently be high because most stems are now prostrate. No surface water is present at low tide.
0 - 1 - undecomposed organic matter
1 - 8 - organic-rich soil: primarily dense fine root material plus coarser litter
8 - 75 - wet, mucky, organic-rich silt; soil still contains considerable fine root material, as well as occasional shale (?) fragments
75+ - clay content increases noticeably and fine root density decreases
