Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS

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USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Colonial National Historical Park The classification of 93 oak / heath forest sample plots is illustrated in Figures G1-G2 of Appendix G. Plot samples cluster into two compositionally distinct groups in both the dendrogram and the three-dimensional ordination (Appendix G, Figures G1 and G2). The two associations, Coastal Plain Mixed Oak / Heath Forest (CEGL006269) and Piedmont / Low Elevation Mixed Oak / Heath Forest (CEGL008521) separate along axis three of the ordination diagram. There were no environmental variables that were significantly correlated with the ordination axes. The single oak / heath sample plot from Colonial National Historical Park is classified as Piedmont / Low Elevation Mixed Oak / Heath Forest (CEGL008521). Environmental variables from plot samples classified as Piedmont / Low Elevation Mixed Oak / Heath Forest (CEGL008521) are summarized in Appendix F. A compositional summary based on 75 sample plots of this association is presented in Appendix H, Table H1. The plot sample from Colonial National Historical Park is fairly typical of the association, both compositionally and environmentally. The Colonial National Historical Park plot sample contained most of the constant species, but lacked common serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), striped prince's pine (Chimaphila maculata), scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), and sassafras (Sassafras albidum). Instead of pignut hickory (Carya glabra) or mockernut hickory (Carya alba), the Colonial National Historical Park example had sand hickory (Carya pallida). Piedmont / Low Elevation Mixed Oak / Heath Forest is found in three of the seven national parks included in this study (Appendix D). Figures G3 and G4 of Appendix G illustrate the classification of 25 plots of pine - oak forest into two compositionally distinct groups. Coastal Plain Loblolly Pine - Oak Forest (CEGL004766) was classified from eight plot samples from Colonial National Historical Park. Eastern White Pine – Hardwood Forest (CEGL008539) is an association found primarily in the Piedmont and mountains, which was documented at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. The two associations separate along axis 1 of the two-dimensional ordination, which represents 60% of the variance in the data (Table 10). Although there were no significant environmental variables separating the associations in analysis, samples of Coastal Plain Loblolly Pine - Oak Forest occurred on flat topography over very infertile soils, while samples of Eastern White Pine – Hardwood Forest were found on moderately steep to steep rocky slopes with slightly more fertile soils (Appendix F). Coastal Plain Loblolly Pine - Oak Forest was only documented at Colonial National Historical Park and is not in any of the other parks in this study (Appendix D). Classification results for the mesic acidic forest group are presented in Appendix G, Figures G5 G7. Plot samples cluster into two compositionally distinct groups in both the dendrogram and the three-dimensional ordination (Appendix G, Figures G5 and G6). Axis three of the joint plot (Appendix G, Figure G7) is highly correlated with joint plot vectors representing pH, and the soil cations calcium, magnesium, manganese, and iron. The two associations classified within the mesic acidic forests group are Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest (CEGL006075) and Piedmont / Coastal Plain Oak – Beech / Heath Forest (CEGL006919). Although both associations can occur in the same landscape, Piedmont / Coastal Plain Oak – Beech / Heath Forest is found on steeper, more exposed slopes with less fertile soils than Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest. A summary of environmental variables for the two associations is presented in Appendix F. Both associations occur at Colonial National Historical Park. Two plot samples from the park represent Piedmont / Coastal Plain Oak – Beech / Heath Forest and three represent Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest. A compositional summary for 26 sample plots of Piedmont / Coastal Plain Oak – Beech / Heath Forest is presented in Appendix H, Table H4 and a compositional summary for 170 sample plots 54
USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Colonial National Historical Park of Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest is presented in Appendix H, Table H3. Plot samples of Piedmont / Coastal Plain Oak – Beech / Heath Forest from Colonial National Historical Park are fairly representative of the association. However, one sample lacked the nominal species American beech (Fagus grandifolia), and both plot samples lacked the parenthetical nominals chestnut oak (Quercus prinus) and black oak (Quercus velutina), although these species were seen in other examples in the park that were not quantitatively sampled. Colonial National Historical Park was the only park in this study where this community was documented (Appendix D). Plot samples of Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest from Colonial National Historical Park are compositionally representative of the association, with all or most of the nominal and constant species. Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest was documented in five of the seven national parks included in this study (Appendix D). The results of the regional analysis of the oak - hickory forest group are illustrated in Figures G8-G10 of Appendix G. Plot samples cluster into two compositionally distinct groups in both the dendrogram (Appendix G, Figure G8) and the three-dimensional ordination (Appendix G, Figure G9). Strong correlations of soil fertility variables with axis three of the ordination suggest that soil nutrients have an important influence on vegetation patterns within this group (Appendix G, Figure G10). Two associations, Acidic Oak-Hickory Forest (CEGL008475) and Basic Oak - Hickory Forest (CEGL007232) were recognized from the analysis and there is much variation within each group of plot samples along a gradual cline of site conditions, soil chemistry, and floristic composition. Only Acidic Oak-Hickory Forest was classified from Colonial National Historical Park. The single plot sample from the park has somewhat typical species composition for the association (Appendix H, Table H5). It lacked the three nominal species northern red oak (Quercus rubra), deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum), and nakedflower ticktrefoil (Desmodium nudiflorum), but had many of the constant species. Examples of Acidic Oak - Hickory Forest from Colonial National Historical Park had greater than average cover for chestnut oak (Quercus prinus) and post oak (Quercus stellata). Acidic Oak-Hickory Forest is found on acidic soils that are common throughout the Piedmont. Acidic Oak-Hickory Forest occurs in six of the seven national parks included in this study (Appendix D). The other association classified within the oak - hickory forest group, Basic Oak – Hickory Forest (CEGL007232), is not present at Colonial National Historical Park. Compared to Acidic Oak - Hickory Forest, Basic Oak - Hickory Forest is associated with soils that are more alkaline and characterized by high cation levels (Appendix F). This forest is the typical basic oak-hickory forest of the southern Virginia Piedmont and, although it is widely distributed in the Piedmont from Virginia to Alabama, it is an uncommon community type that is strongly restricted to mafic substrates and subject to ongoing threats from cutting and conversion of hardwood stands to pine silvicultures. The classification of 77 basic mesic and calcareous forest sample plots is illustrated in Figures G11–G13 of Appendix G. Plot samples cluster into three compositionally similar groups in both the dendrogram and the three-dimensional ordination (Appendix G, Figures G11 and G12). Two associations in this group, Coastal Plain Dry Calcareous Forest (CEGL007748) and Coastal Plain Mesic Calcareous Ravine Forest (CEGL007181), are restricted to the Coastal Plain where they are found in association with Tertiary shell deposits. Coastal Plain Dry Calcareous Forest is represented in the analysis results by 24 sample plots, including six from Colonial National Historical Park. Coastal Plain Mesic Calcareous Ravine Forest is represented in the analysis results by 22 sample plots, including one from Colonial National Historical Park. The third 55
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