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CEGL006341 Ascophyllum nodosum - Fucus vesiculosus Tidal Algal Nonvascular Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Yellow Tang - Black Tang Tidal Algal Nonvascular Vegetation
Colloquial Name: New England Rocky Intertidal Rocky Shore
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This algal vegetation occurs on rocky intertidal habitats of the north Atlantic Coast. It spans the littoral zone between mean high tide and mean low tide and can locally extend into the upper sublittoral. This habitat is characterized by alternating submergence by tidal flooding and exposure to air. Substrate is composed of rocks, boulders, and cobbles. Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus spp. are the most characteristic algae, with other associates including Enteromorpha spp., Ulva lactuca, Porphyra laciniata, Phyllitis fascia, and Cladophora spp. There is seasonal and geographic variability in species composition between areas north versus south of Cape Cod, which forms a major boundary between colder waters to the north fed by arctic currents and warmer waters to the south fed by the Gulf Stream. Distinct species zonation can reflect upper littoral, lower littoral and sublittoral zones, but species often intergrade. Invertebrates are important members of this community, including Mytilus edulis (blue mussel), Semibalanus balanoides (barnacles), Littorina spp., (periwinkles), and Tectura testudinalis (limpets), as well as species of Asterias (starfish).
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Invertebrates are important members of this community, including Mytilus edulis (blue mussel), Semibalanus balanoides (barnacles), Littorina spp., (periwinkles), and Tectura testudinalis (limpets), as well as species of Asterias (starfish).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association encompasses algal vegetation of the littoral and upper sublittoral zones of rocky coasts. Vegetation is a compilation of both cold-water and warm-water species that do not necessarily occur together throughout the year; there is seasonal variability in species occurrence. Generalist species common throughout the year and in both warm and cold water include Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus, which are dominant and tend to grow profusely. Other conspicuous species can include Fucus spiralis and Fucus distichus, and, depending on local wave energy, other algal species like Enteromorpha clathrata, Enteromorpha intestinalis, Ulva lactuca, Porphyra laciniata, and Phyllitis fascia. Distinct species zonation can reflect upper littoral, lower littoral and sublittoral zones, but species often intergrade. In the upper littoral zone, species such as Enteromorpha minima, Enteromorpha prolifera, Urospora penicilliformis, Rhizoclonium spp., and Ulothrix spp. occur. In the lower littoral region, in deeper water, additional species can include Ectocarpus spp., Hildenbrandtia prototypus, Nemalion multifidum, Bryopsis plumosa, and Cladophora spp. (Nichols 1920). Species diversity fluctuates seasonally based on water temperature affiliations of individual species. Several additional algal species can occur as epiphytes.
Dynamics: This association occurs in mid-intertidal zones where organisms are both inundated by tides and exposed in varying proportions. Stresses of exposure include wide seasonal temperature fluctuations, desiccation by air, and dilution of salinity by precipitation. At higher elevations, the degree of exposure favors blue-green algae and barnacles. At lower elevations, red and brown algae begin to occur in greater diversity and abundance. Species diversity fluctuates seasonally based on water temperature affiliations of individual species; species that prefer warmer water tend to occur in greater abundance south of Cape Cod. Although these species are found in colder waters, they tend to occur later in the season than they do in warmer waters. Likewise, species that prefer colder water occur in greater abundance north of Cape Cod, but also occur in warmer waters to the south earlier in the season (Coleman and Mathieson 1975).
Environmental Description: This association occurs most commonly along rocky coastal shorelines spanning the littoral zone between mean high tide and mean low tide. The littoral zone is characterized by alternating submergence by tidal flooding and exposure to air. It is roughly subdivided into two zones on either side of average neap tide level; organisms that can tolerate a greater degree of exposure occur in the upper littoral zone. Substrate is rocky, stony, or cobbly reflecting relatively high wave energy and erosion-resistant bedrock. Artificial jetties and dikes also provide appropriate habitat for this vegetation. This association spans geographically across Cape Cod, which forms a major boundary between colder waters to the north fed by arctic currents and warmer waters to the south fed by the Gulf Stream.
Geographic Range: This association occurs along the northern Atlantic Coast from New York to Labrador.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: CT, MA, ME, NB?, NH, NY, ON?, QC?, RI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686527
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 5 Aquatic Vegetation Class | C05 | 5 |
| Subclass | 5.A Saltwater Aquatic Vegetation Subclass | S09 | 5.A |
| Formation | 5.A.2 Benthic Macroalgae Saltwater Vegetation Formation | F053 | 5.A.2 |
| Division | 5.A.2.Wb Temperate Intertidal Shore Division | D047 | 5.A.2.Wb |
| Macrogroup | 5.A.2.Wb.1 Temperate Atlantic Intertidal Shore Macrogroup | M104 | 5.A.2.Wb.1 |
| Group | 5.A.2.Wb.1.a Yellow Tang - Sea-lettuce Intertidal Algal Flat Group | G387 | 5.A.2.Wb.1.a |
| Alliance | A4133 North Atlantic Tidal Rocky Shore Alliance | A4133 | 5.A.2.Wb.1.a |
| Association | CEGL006341 Yellow Tang - Black Tang Tidal Algal Nonvascular Vegetation | CEGL006341 | 5.A.2.Wb.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Fucus - Ascophyllum community (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
? Brown algae zone (Berrill and Berrill 1981)
? Rockweed-barnacle community (Godfrey et al. 1978)
? Rocky shore (Godfrey et al. 1978)
? Brown algae zone (Berrill and Berrill 1981)
? Rockweed-barnacle community (Godfrey et al. 1978)
? Rocky shore (Godfrey et al. 1978)
- Bell, R., M. Chandler, R. Buchsbaum, and C. Roman. 2002. Inventory of intertidal habitats: Boston Harbor Islands, a National Park area. Technical Report NPS/NERBOST/NRTR-2004/1. National Park Service, Northeast Region, Boston, MA. 13 pp.
- Berrill, M., and D. Berrill. 1981. A Sierra Club naturalists'' guide, the North Atlantic Coast: Cape Cod to Newfoundland. Sierra Club Books, San Francisco, CA.
- CDPNQ [Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec]. No date. Unpublished data. Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec, Québec.
- Coleman, D. C., and A. C. Mathieson. 1975. Investigations of New England marine algae. VII: Seasonal occurrence and reproduction of marine algae near Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Rhodora 77:76-104.
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
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- Gawler, S. C. 2002. Natural landscapes of Maine: A guide to vegetated natural communities and ecosystems. Maine Natural Areas Program, Department of Conservation, Augusta, ME.
- Godfrey, P. J., M. Benedict, and M. Soukup. 1978. A guide to the ecology of Cape Cod National Seashore (Mary 1978 draft). National Park Service Cooperative Research Unit, Institute for Man and Environment, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
- Largay, E. F., and L. A. Sneddon. 2017. Vegetation mapping and classification of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2017/1529. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Metzler, K., and J. Barrett. 2006. The vegetation of Connecticut: A preliminary classification. State Geological and Natural History Survey, Report of Investigations No. 12. Connecticut Natural Diversity Database, Hartford, CT.
- Nichols, G. E. 1920. The vegetation of Connecticut: III. The associations of depositing areas along the seacoast. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 47:511-548.
- 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.
- Sperduto, D. D., and W. F. Nichols. 2004. Natural communities of New Hampshire: A guide and classification. New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau, DRED Division of Forests and Lands, Concord. 242 pp.
- Swain, P. C., and J. B. Kearsley. 2014. Classification of the natural communities of Massachusetts. Version 2.0. Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Westborough, MA. [http://www.mass.gov/nhesp/http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/natural-heritage/natural-communities/classification-of-natural-communities.html]