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
28
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
60
%
Shrub Cover
30
%
Field Cover
30
%
Nonvascular Cover
90
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot was placed to capture a forest stand representative of a 4 hectare upland depression. This was somewhat difficult because most of the co-dominant Quercus phellos in this area have recently died. As a result, plot placement was on an edge of the wetland where the overstory is still mostly intact. Compositionally, this stand is more typical of depression wetlands on flat, Coastal Plain terraces. The basin was completely drawn down and dry at the time of survey, but observations in 2005 and water marks on trees indicate that the habitat is periodically flooded to a depth of about 50 cm. The ground in the plot was covered by an unidentified moss and Sphagnum. Carex joorii is the dominant herb, patches of which are interspersed among patchy thickets of ericaceous shrubs.
A DOF forester examined this stand and felt that no single cause of oak mortality could be identified. One hypothesis is that excessive flooding and winds during Hurricane Isabel damaged or stressed the root systems. Fungal infections and boring insect damage observed on the survey date were likely secondary invaders rather than the primary causes of mortality.
unknown
extensive mortality of Quercus phellos throughout 4 ha wetland
