Print Report
CEGL002581 Northern Tallgrass Saline Mudflats Sparse Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Northern Tallgrass Saline Mudflats Sparse Vegetation
Colloquial Name: Northern Tallgrass Saline Mudflats
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This saline mudflat community occurs in the northern tallgrass region of the United States and Canada. These mudflats are found in shallow basins that flood in the spring and drawdown later in the season, exposing the wet sediments on which the plants grow. High concentrations of salts that were dissolved in the water accumulate on the surface. Submerged aquatic plants may be present during the flooding stage, leaving organic debris on the surface. The vegetation is generally sparse. Plant species tolerant of high concentrations of dissolved salts dominate the stands. Puccinellia nuttalliana, Salicornia rubra and Bolboschoenus maritimus are particularly characteristic.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type is typified by a sparse vegetation with saline-tolerant species. Closely related saline flats with more vegetation cover include ~Salicornia rubra Salt Flat (CEGL001999)$$, a type that is also seasonally flooded (and may well be synonymous with this type, though it has a wide Great Plains distribution), and a saline prairie type that is drier and more extensively covered by vegetation, ~Distichlis spicata - Hordeum jubatum - Puccinellia nuttalliana - Suaeda calceoliformis Wet Meadow (CEGL002273)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation is generally sparse. Plant species tolerant of high concentrations of dissolved salts dominate the stands. Puccinellia nuttalliana, Salicornia rubra and Bolboschoenus maritimus (= Scirpus maritimus) are particularly characteristic (MNNHP 1993).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: These mudflats are found in shallow basins that flood in the spring and draw down later in the season, exposing the wet sediments on which the plants grow. High concentrations of salts that were dissolved in the water accumulate on the surface. Submerged aquatic plants may be present during the flooding stage, leaving an organic debris on the surface (MNNHP 1993).
Geographic Range: This saline spring mud flat community type occurs in the northern tallgrass region of the United States and Canada, ranging from Minnesota into Manitoba.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MB, MN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689587
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass | S44 | 2.C |
| Formation | 2.C.5 Salt Marsh Formation | F035 | 2.C.5 |
| Division | 2.C.5.Na North American Great Plains Saline Marsh Division | D033 | 2.C.5.Na |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.5.Na.1 Great Plains Saline Wet Meadow & Marsh Macrogroup | M077 | 2.C.5.Na.1 |
| Group | 2.C.5.Na.1.a Saltgrass - Foxtail Barley - Western Wheatgrass Great Plains Saline Wet Meadow & Marsh Group | G324 | 2.C.5.Na.1.a |
| Alliance | A4071 Red Swampfire Wet Meadow Alliance | A4071 | 2.C.5.Na.1.a |
| Association | CEGL002581 Northern Tallgrass Saline Mudflats Sparse Vegetation | CEGL002581 | 2.C.5.Na.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Saline Spring Mud Flats Sparse Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
- Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
- Greenall, J. A. 1996. Manitoba''s terrestrial plant communities. MS Report 96-02. Manitoba Conservation Data Centre, Winnipeg.
- MNNHP [Minnesota Natural Heritage Program]. 1993. Minnesota''s native vegetation: A key to natural communities. Version 1.5. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program, St. Paul, MN. 110 pp.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- Minnesota DNR [Minnesota Department of Natural Resources]. 2003-2005a. Field guide to the native plant communities of Minnesota. Three volumes: The Laurentian Mixed Forest Province (2003), The Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province (2005c), The Prairie Parkland and Tallgrass Aspen Parklands provinces (2005b). Ecological Land Classification Program, Minnesota County Biological Survey, and Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul.
- Minnesota DNR [Minnesota Department of Natural Resources]. 2005c. Field guide to the native plant communities of Minnesota: The Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province. Ecological Land Classification Program, Minnesota County Biological Survey, and Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul.