Site 4 - Fourth Stop W5A

Site 4: N39 38.274 W77 26.321
Elevation: 1379 ft
Aspect: East
Slope Position: Shoulder
Landform: Cove
Common Vegetation: Northern Red Oak, Maple, Hickory, Fern

Comparably different from the other sites we visited, W5A was cool in temperature and hosted trees of great height and size, as well as a significant amount of understory. These characteristics directly correlate to the slope position, landform and aspect (Warren). As an East slope, this area rarely receives direct sunlight, and when it does, it is in the early part of the day when the heat of the sun warms the air and not the ground. Consequently, the species have moist, cool soil to grow in, which is a prime climate for species such as Northern Red Oak, Maple trees, Hickory and Fern.

As a cove, this area naturally collects water rather than dispersing it which additionally adds to the moisturous and cool climate. Since the slope position is a shoulder, the area isn’t terribly steep and can retain moisture, and thus support the growth of luscious understory as well as tall trees. 

Warren II, Robert J. "An Experimental Test of Well-described Vegetation Patterns across Slope Aspects Using Woodland Herb Transplants and Manipulated Abiotic Drivers." New Phytologist 185.4 (2010): 1038-049. Print.