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
90
%
Shrub Cover
55
%
Field Cover
30
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot is located in a gentle, shallow ravine head where Quercus alba greatly dominates the forest overstory. Logging decades ago may have removed associated, faster-growing red and black oaks. Upslope the stand grades into a very sterile, floristically depauperate forest co-dominated by Quercus montana, Quercus alba, and Gaylussacia baccata. Despite some evidence of past fire and prolific Quercus alba seedling production, Acer rubrum strongly dominates the small-tree layers, probably following a prolonged absence of fire. Cornus florida was formerly more abundant in the understory, but has been greatly reduced by the dogwood anthracnose fungal pathogen.
Well-rotted (almost disintegrated) hardwood stumps present. Presumed fire scars on two oaks. Several dogwood snags in plot. Rhododendron periclymenoides and Euonymus americanus reduced to basal sprouts by heavy deer grazing.