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
17
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
20
%
Shrub Cover
30
%
Field Cover
20
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Note: the digital geologic map unit (sp - Swamp deposits) is incorrect and does not account for deep sand deposits that form the dunes in First Landing/Seashore State Park.
Plot is located on the high dune complex in the NW section of Park, near the Superintendant's house. This area is a mosaic of open sand with sparse trees/shrubs and more stable areas with taller-statured forest/woodland of Pinus taeda over small trees/shrubs. It is not entirely clear if this habitat is a natural relict migratory dune, an artificial disturbance feature, or a combination of both. It appears that the dune is still migrating, but that some of the discrete "blow-outs" may have anthropogenic origins. The plot was positioned to capture both the woodland and the Hudsonia-dominated bare sand variants of the site. Low branches of a large pine in the plot have been buried by shifting sands. The lichen Parmotrema perforatum abundantly covers the branches of shrubby Quercus incana.
