Print Report
CEGL006043 Fagus grandifolia / Smilax rotundifolia Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Beech / Roundleaf Greenbrier Forest
Colloquial Name: Long Island Maritime Beech Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This maritime forest community is currently described from north-facing exposed bluffs and the back portions of rolling dunes on Long Island. The community is dominated by Fagus grandifolia. Quercus velutina and Acer rubrum can be present at low densities. Canopy trees exhibit a stunted, multi-stemmed growth form from wind and salt spray; trees are notably taller in more protected dune slacks. A shrub layer is sparse to absent. Vines and herbs such as Aralia nudicaulis, Epifagus virginiana, and Smilax rotundifolia form a sparse ground layer, and moss cover is variable. Soils are well-drained fine sands. This community occurs only in Long Island, New York.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This community is related to maritime oak-beech forests of Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey but differs in the striking dominance of Fagus grandifolia and the absence of many characteristic species. It occurs as part of a mosaic of coastal associations ranging from open Ammophila breviligulata grasslands to closed backdune forests.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community is dominated by Fagus grandifolia which ranges from about 50-90% cover. The trees usually exhibit a stunted, multiple-stemmed growth form. Fagus grandifolia often occurs in pure stands but occasional canopy associates include Quercus velutina, Acer rubrum; understory is sparse to absent. Vines and herbaceous species form a sparse layer, ranging from 10-20% cover and characterized by Aralia nudicaulis, Smilax rotundifolia and Epifagus virginiana. Moss cover is variable, reaching 50% on steeper slopes.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This community is apparently restricted to north-facing exposed bluffs and the back portions of rolling dunes in maritime regions. Soils are well-drained fine sands. Wind and salt spray appear to be responsible for the stunted, multiple-stemmed growth form of trees which is most pronounced on the exposed ocean-facing bluffs. Trees are notably taller in more protected dune slacks.
Geographic Range: This community is restricted to a short stretch of the northern coast of Long Island, New York.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683465
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Na Eastern North American Forest & Woodland Division | D008 | 1.B.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Na.9 Pitch Pine - oak spp. - American Holly North Atlantic Forest Macrogroup | M525 | 1.B.2.Na.9 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.9.c Pitch Pine - American Beech / Northern Bayberry Maritime Forest Group | G893 | 1.B.2.Na.9.c |
| Alliance | A2032 Black Oak - American Beech - American Holly Maritime Forest Alliance | A2032 | 1.B.2.Na.9.c |
| Association | CEGL006043 American Beech / Roundleaf Greenbrier Forest | CEGL006043 | 1.B.2.Na.9.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? CNE Mesic hardwood Forest on acidic bedrock / till (Rawinski 1984a)
= Dwarf beech maritime forest (Greller 1977)
? Maritime Forest, Dune Subtype, Deciduous Forest (Rawinski 1984a)
= Maritime beech forest (Edinger et al. 2002)
? Maritime forest (Rawinski 1984a)
? SNE Maritime Forest on Dunes/Maritime Juniper Forest (Rawinski 1984a)
? SNE Maritime Forest on Uplands/Maritime Oak Forest (Rawinski 1984a) [(also coastal forest).]
? Southern New England oak / pine forest on sandy / gravelly soils (Rawinski 1984a)
= Dwarf beech maritime forest (Greller 1977)
? Maritime Forest, Dune Subtype, Deciduous Forest (Rawinski 1984a)
= Maritime beech forest (Edinger et al. 2002)
? Maritime forest (Rawinski 1984a)
? SNE Maritime Forest on Dunes/Maritime Juniper Forest (Rawinski 1984a)
? SNE Maritime Forest on Uplands/Maritime Oak Forest (Rawinski 1984a) [(also coastal forest).]
? Southern New England oak / pine forest on sandy / gravelly soils (Rawinski 1984a)
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Edinger, G. J., D. J. Evans, S. Gebauer, T. G. Howard, D. M. Hunt, and A. M. Olivero, editors. 2002. Ecological communities of New York state. Second edition. A revised and expanded edition of Carol Reschke''s ecological communities of New York state. (Draft for review). New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY.
- Edinger, G. J., D. J. Evans, S. Gebauer, T. G. Howard, D. M. Hunt, and A. M. Olivero, editors. 2014a. Ecological communities of New York state. Second edition. A revised and expanded edition of Carol Reschke''s ecological communities of New York state. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY.
- Good, R. E., and N. F. Good. 1970. Vegetation of the sea cliffs and adjacent uplands on the north shore of Long Island, New York. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 97:204-208.
- Greller, A. M. 1977. A classification of mature forests on Long Island, New York. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 104:376-382.
- Rawinski, T. 1984a. Natural community description abstract - southern New England calcareous seepage swamp. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Boston, MA. 6 pp.
- Reschke, C. 1990. Ecological communities of New York State. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Latham, NY. 96 pp.