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 Height
29
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
35
%
Field Cover
35
%
Nonvascular Cover
2
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot is located at the west edge of the Reynolds Creek Floodplain, <0.2 km south of Rt. 615. Relative to the size of the stream, this floodplain is wide (~300m) and marked by numerous, braided swales that are shallowly seasonally flooded. The plot is located in one of the swales. Forest vegetation is dominated by young Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Carex spp. Larger Quercus palustris are scattered through area. Slightly higher, drier inter-swale parts of the floodplain are dominated by Liriodendron tulipifera and Liquidambar styraciflua, with a more mesophytic herb flora.
Composite sample of 3 collected
0-2 cm - leaf litter
2-5 cm - humus/ roots
5+ cm - whitish-brown, orange-mottled clay, very sticky
clay closer to surface (less humus) in depressions.
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Several old beaver cuttings (small trees) in and around plot.
No doubt logged decades ago.