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
33
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
95
%
Shrub Cover
45
%
Field Cover
20
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Note: GPS point plotted in stream, ca. 20-25 m from plot center; therefore, this point was manually digitized.
This plot is located on a ravine slope opposite plot PGSF001 sampled by Kathleen McCoy in 2000. While PGSF001 is located on a very steep (30 deg.) slope that supports very mature forest, this flank of the ravine is gentler and has a history of more recent disturbances based on the presence of many Liriodendron and some Pinus spp. The current vegetation in the plot area is dominated by two very imposing trees - an 84 cm DBH Quercus alba and a 77 cm DBH Carya ovalis. While these specimens do not have the classic form of open-grown trees, their size and spreading crowns indicate that they survived the most recent disturbances and grew for a time in relatively open conditions. A younger cohort of Carya ovalis, Quercus rubra, and Liriodendron (40-55 cm DBH) became established perhaps 80 or 100 years ago.
