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
30
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
75
%
Shrub Cover
40
%
Field Cover
10
%
Nonvascular Cover
20
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot attempted to capture a mesic hemlock - mixed hardwood stand confined to the bottom of a small cove. An exceptionally long, narrow (8 x 50 m) plot configuration was used to avoid a trail on the sampled slope, and to exclude a rapid upslope transition zone to more xerophytic pine-oak/heath vegetation. The bottom of the plot lies on the bedrock channel shelf of a small stream. Although not an ideal situation for sampling, this was an opportunity to capture a forest in which co-dominant hemlocks still had significant foliage and cover. The stand is somewhat floristically depauperate, even for an acidic cove forest. This is not uncommon in the Ridge and Valley, however, and is probably attributable to extremely acidid, nutrient-poor soils weathered from hematitic sandstone.
Litter thin (1 cm or less) over much of plot.
A horizon = yellow-brown sandy loam.
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Logged in past. Occasional flash flooding on stream channel shelf at base of plot. Hemlock adelgid present but only a few trees have died. Many hemlocks have > 50% of their foliage remaining.
