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
1000
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Shrub Height
6
m
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
25
%
Field Cover
1
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot and plot YORK003 are very similar compositionally, but occupy different portions of a (perhaps former) moisture gradient. While the two plots, which are only ca. 100 m apart, appear to differ in soil series, the behavior is opposite that predicted by the dominant vegetation. In this plot Quercus michauxii is the overstory dominant, which suggests more hydric conditions, yet the Augusta series is less poorly drained than the adjacent Tomotley series. Several other hydrophytic oak species are also present. Whatever the hydrologic regime at the time of stand initiation, however, it has likely been severely modified by a large network of often deep drainage ditches throughout this tract, and saturated conditions may no longer prevail. Oak individuals < 40 cm dbh are virtually absent. Ground cover is very sparse and comprises primarily seedlings of overstory trees, sprawling stems of Smilax rotundifolia, and scant clumps of ferns. This plot also differs from YORK003 in containing a larger component of understory Liquidambar styraciflua. This northwestern portion of the stand is noteworthy for the stature of the overstory.
0 - 2 - leaf litter and duff
2 - 15 - medium brown loamy sand
15 - 33 - light brown to tan, moist loamy sand, with lower clay content
33 - medium to dark brown, sandy clay loam
