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
1500
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
15
m
Shrub Height
0.600000023841858
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
15
%
Shrub Cover
20
%
Field Cover
40
%
Nonvascular Cover
15
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Somewhat heterogeneous plot - both compositionally and structurally - at the xeric end of a moisture gradient in the zone with the best developed relictual Pinus palustris / Quercus laevis / ericaceous shrub vegetation at South Quay. Despite heterogeneity plot is probably representative overall of prevailing vegetation. Several microhabitats are captured: (1) dense, relatively tall, evidently fire-suppressed ground layer of Gaylussacia frondosa with highest density and stature of Q. laevis; (2) very open ground layer of Vaccinium crassifolium; ground layer of intermediate height and density with (3) Kalmia angustifolia or (4) Gaylussacia baccata and G. dumosa. Although the more open patches might reflect past disturbance, this stand lacks appreciable microtopographic variation or evident bedding and furrows that are characteristic signs of past logging. There is virtually no regeneration of P. palustris; although dense, tall heath; deep litter; and shade from Q. laevis and P. taeda are likely contributing factors, fire exclusion is probably the most important reason, since large P. taeda seedlings are comparatively numerous. Relative abundance of pines in plot seems proportional to that in stand as a whole. At the far end of plot, vegetation grades into more typical sandhill community with denser, smaller pines (primarily P. taeda) and Q. laevis (modules 4 and 5) and into very small streamhead pocosin (module 6). Tentative identification of P. serotina based on epicormic sprouting and resinous buds on one tree each. Ca. 10% of surface substrate consists of lichen over sand without litter; hence bryophyte and lichen cover included in summation of cover values to unity.
0 - 3 - leaf litter and duff (often thicker, but depth difficult to gauge)
3 - light gray, moist sand; flecks of organic matter near the surface, frequent mottling below; near water table at 90 cm?
