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
36
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
85
%
Shrub Cover
70
%
Field Cover
5
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot is located in a large, mature, late-seral mesophytic ravine forest on nutrient-poor soils of the inner Coastal Plain. It is further distinguished by being one of a very few Virginia Coastal Plain stands containing Pinus strobus. A tenth-hectare plot might have been more desirable considering the large-statured (many > 75 cm DBH and > 35 m tall) trees that dominate the stand. However, careful placement captured large specimens of each of the four prominent species in the area: Quercus alba, Fagus grandifolia, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Pinus strobus, as well as the characteristic understory of Ilex opaca and young Fagus. Two of the largest Pinus strobus here have recently died and fallen; the largest individual still standing was aged at 127 years by Jason Applegate of the Fort A.P Hill Environmental Division. An extremely large and old Liriodendron (143 cm DBH) is located near the southern boundary of the plot but was recently struck by lightning and shows signs of crown stress and die-back. Upslope and out of the ravine, the stand grades into a more xeric oak/heath forest dominated by Quercus alba, Q. coccinea, Q. velutina, and Gaylussacia frondosa. Very old stump holes, along with gullies in the slope suggest that the area was cleared a very long time ago. Increment cores collected from several oaks and beech in this stand suggest that most of the dominant overstory trees originated 125-130 years ago in ~ even-aged regeneration following a timber harvest, likely of pines. A few older trees in the stand represent individuals that regenerated with pines following abandonment of the field or residual specimens that were left during clearing.
