A vegetation analysis was made of the Bee Branch Gorge Research Natural Area by Hardin and Lewis in 1977. In 1989 we repeated the vegetation analysis to determine what changes have occurred in this hemlock-beech dominated Research Natural Area. In the 1977 analysis, the two co-dominant tree species as indicated by importance percentage (IP) were Fagus grandifolia (IP=21) and Tsuga canadensis (IP=20). In the 1989 sample, Tsuga canadensis (IP=31) had a higher importance percentage than Fagus grandifolia (IP=21). However, the correlation of the IP percentages of all the trees between 1977 and 1989 was high (r2=.95). The major shrubs in 1977 were: Smilax spp., Vitis rotundifolia and Kalmia latifolia. In 1989, the most common shrubs were: Vitis rotundifolia, Arundinaria gigantea (IP=18) and Smilax spp. The major herbaceous plants in 1977 were: Carex picta and Mitchella repens. In 1989, Carex picta and Mitchella repens were still the major plants.
Although there has been some differences in importance percentages of the plants, the study area has not changed much in 12 years, an indication that this is a fairly stable forest. One difference is the increase in the number of paw paw trees in 1989 as compared to 1977.