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:
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
70
%
Field Cover
30
%
Nonvascular Cover
50
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The vegetation in this plot is a boulderfield forest that occupies narrow areas between exposed, more or less scrubby talus near the summit of Mount Marshall and less bouldery, more closed red oak forest of the upper slopes. Betula allegheniensis and Acer spicatum strongly dominate the stand.
Plot location: Shenandoah NP. Just west of the summit of North Marshall and just north of (and visible from) the Appalachian Trail. Plot located in a gentle area of bouldery deposition at the foot of a short, steep boulderfield just below the ridge crest and AT.
No profile development. Soils are almost entirely well decomposed interstitial duff (very deep in places). Mineral soil (probably colluvial) found in 1 or 2 spots and extracted only with great difficulty.
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Dieback and resprouting of Acer spicatum prevalent.