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
100
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Shrub Height
3
m
Field Height
1
m
Shrub Cover
50
%
Field Cover
60
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
A small stand of Cephalanthus occidentalis over clumps of Peltandra virginica and Pontederia cordata occupies the southeastern tip of this island on the Pamunkey Indian Reservation. This relatively small vegetation patch is probably better considered a shrub-dominated variant of a low tidal freshwater marsh rather than a distinct tidal shrub swamp community. Larger stands than this occur on the island, but this one appears the healthiest. Nevertheless, evidently more than half of the stems are dead (and not merely early senescent), and virtually all are at least somewhat stressed. It is unknown whether sea-level or some other cause is responsible for this mortality and stress. A muskrat den is located just outside the plot, and muskrat "eat-out" channels have altered the local hydrology and produced slight hummock-and-hollow topography, with some hummocks approaching heights of 20 cm.
0 - 20 - very wet, dark brown muck with considerable coarse, undecomposed organic matter (principally Cephalanthus leaves and wood)
~20 - 45 - more consolidated soil with higher clay content
~45 - impermeable (clay?) layer (depth not uniform)
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Muskrat activity appears to have altered local hydrology.
