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:
Tree Height
31
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
6
m
Tree Cover
95
%
Shrub Cover
20
%
Field Cover
20
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot represents a mature forest dominated by Acer saccharum and Quercus spp. on the upper slopes bordering the Potomac River in Red Rock Wilderness Regional Park. Although the largest trees are oaks, there is little or no recruitment of these species and Acer saccharum and Carya spp. dominate the understory tree layers. The herb layer is rather sparse, apparently because of heavy grazing by white-tailed deer. This vegetation is similar to dry-mesic forests on limestone and calcareous shales in the Ridge and Valley province of western Virginia.
