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
34
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
15
%
Field Cover
30
%
Nonvascular Cover
5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This site supports older mesophytic forest than seen elsewhere along Passage Creek. The stand has a mixed overstory of oaks, Pinus strobus, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Nyssa sylvatica (outside plot). Tsuga canadensis is occasional in the overstory, but important in the understory throughout the area. Although impacted by the adelgid, many Tsuga trees here are alive and have significant foliage. A large gap at the ower edge of plot, in the vicinity of two red oak snags, is now filled with sapling Acer rubrum. Although oaks are co-dominant in canopy, there is very poor oak recruitment throughout this area. Overall composition suggests mixed soil influences, with acidophiles such as Kalmia and other heaths mixing with Cercis canadensis, Ostrya virginiana, Amphicarpaea bracteata, and other moderately nutrient-demanding species. Cover was estimated somewhat hastily and with poor visibility as heavy rain, thunder, and lightning moved in during the later stages of sampling.
0-1 cm: leaf litter
1-3 cm: dense humus and root mat
3+ cm: whitish sandy loam, very stony
very difficult to collect samples
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Old, overgrown logging road runs across upper edge of plot; Crisman Hollow Road 10 m above plot. Three dogwood snags and two red oak snags in plot. Low exotics.