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CEGL006586 Spartina alterniflora - Distichlis spicata Tidal Salt Marsh
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Smooth Cordgrass - Saltgrass Tidal Salt Marsh
Colloquial Name: North Atlantic Short-form Salt Marsh
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association of the mid-Atlantic represents low salt marsh vegetation dominated by the "short form" of Spartina alterniflora and Distichlis spicata, although the latter species may be somewhat less abundant. Most occurrences of this community type are located in nonriverine, mesohaline marshes subject to regular, diurnal tides. Diversity is exceedingly low. Some stands may be codominated by Spartina patens. Other associates may include Limonium carolinianum, Solidago sempervirens, and occasional succulents, including Salicornia depressa, Salicornia bigelovii, Suaeda linearis, and Sarcocornia perennis.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Stands of this vegetation generally occupy lower landscape positions than the typically adjacent high marsh represented by ~Spartina patens - Distichlis spicata - (Juncus roemerianus) Salt Marsh (CEGL004197)$$ and are usually flooded daily. Salt pannes dominated by ~Salicornia (depressa, bigelovii, maritima) - Spartina alterniflora Salt Marsh (CEGL004308)$$ may form at intermediate landscape positions, where salt concentrations are higher due to evaporation between less regular episodes of inundation, and hence halophytic forbs attain greater importance. This type is documented by 11 vegetation plots and numerous National Park Service Accuracy Assessment points from Virginia and Maryland.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community is dominated by short-statured Spartina alterniflora, generally much less than 1 m in height; Distichlis spicata is a constant and typically codominant associate. Spartina patens may attain moderate to high cover in some stands. Infrequent components of this vegetation include Limonium carolinianum, Schoenoplectus pungens, Iva frutescens, Juncus roemerianus, Kosteletzkya virginica, Pluchea odorata, and Salicornia depressa (= Salicornia virginica). Species richness is very low, with an average of five species per 100 m2.
Dynamics: As elevation increases slightly toward the interior of marshes, this community grades into high marsh consisting of ~Spartina patens - Distichlis spicata - (Juncus roemerianus) Salt Marsh (CEGL004197)$$. At lower landscape positions with a longer hydroperiod, low marsh dominated by taller culms of Spartina alterniflora prevails, represented by ~Spartina alterniflora / (Ascophyllum nodosum) Acadian/Virginian Zone Salt Marsh (CEGL004192)$$. Grazing and trampling by wild ponies at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge may contribute to the short stature of Spartina alterniflora on this island. This community also frequently co-occurs with salt flat vegetation dominated by Salicornia spp. (CEGL004308), and may replace the latter in succession as depressions are filled with new sediments.
Environmental Description: Stands of this vegetation are located in mesohaline (5-18 ppt salinity), chiefly non-riverine marshes subject to regular, diurnal tides. The substrate typically consists of extremely dense, often firm, fibric peat rich in fine roots and rhizomes. This vegetation is documented from large estuaries that are somewhat more sheltered from storm overwash than similar vegetation of barrier island marshes.
Geographic Range: This association has been documented from several, chiefly non-riverine sites on the eastern and western shores of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and Virginia, as well as on the Delaware Bay. It may also occur in New Jersey, but further inventory is required to confirm this.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ?, NY, RI, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.802175
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.Nb North American Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Salt Marsh Division | D034 | 2.C.5.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.5.Nb.1 North American Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Salt Marsh Macrogroup | M079 | 2.C.5.Nb.1 |
| Group | 2.C.5.Nb.1.a Smooth Cordgrass Low Salt Marsh Group | G122 | 2.C.5.Nb.1.a |
| Alliance | A4498 Smooth Cordgrass North Atlantic Low Salt Marsh Alliance | A4498 | 2.C.5.Nb.1.a |
| Association | CEGL006586 Smooth Cordgrass - Saltgrass Tidal Salt Marsh | CEGL006586 | 2.C.5.Nb.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Spartina alterniflora - Distichlis spicata Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation (Fleming et al. 2007b)
< Salt marsh (Higgins et al. 1971)
< Salt marsh community (Hill 1986)
< Salt marsh (Higgins et al. 1971)
< Salt marsh community (Hill 1986)
- Coulling, P. P. 2002. A preliminary classification of tidal marsh, shrub swamp, and hardwood swamp vegetation and assorted non-tidal, chiefly non-maritime, herbaceous wetland communities of the Virginia Coastal Plain. October 2002. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage. Natural Heritage Technical Report 02-18. 30 pp.
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Fleming, G. P., K. D. Patterson, and K. Taverna. 2017. The natural communities of Virginia: A classification of ecological community groups and community types. Third approximation. Version 3.0. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/]
- Fleming, G. P., K. Taverna, and P. P. Coulling. 2007b. Vegetation classification for the National Capitol Region parks, eastern region. Regional (VA-MD-DC) analysis prepared for NatureServe and USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, March 2007. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
- Fleming, G. P., and K. D. Patterson. 2003. Preliminary vegetation classification for the National Capitol Region parks. Regional (VA-WVA-MD-DC) analysis prepared for NatureServe and USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, March 2003. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
- Higgins, E. A. T., R. D. Rappleye, and R. G. Brown. 1971. The flora and ecology of Assateague Island. University of Maryland Experiment Station Bulletin A-172. 70 pp.
- Hill, S. R. 1986. An annotated checklist of the vascular flora of Assateague Island (Maryland and Virginia). Castanea 5:265-305.
- NatureServe. 2009. Vegetation of the E.B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. International Ecological Classification Standard: Terrestrial Ecological Classifications. NatureServe Central Databases. Arlington, VA. U.S.A. Data current as of 1 December 2009.
- Patterson, K. D. 2008c. Vegetation classification and mapping at Colonial National Historical Park, Virginia. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2008/129. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA. 369 pp.
- Patterson, K. D. 2008d. Vegetation classification and mapping at George Washington Birthplace National Monument, Virginia. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2008/099. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA. 231 pp.
- Sneddon, L., J. Menke, A. Berdine, E. Largay, and S. Gawler. 2017. Vegetation classification and mapping of Assateague Island National Seashore. Natural Resource Report NPS/ASIS/NRR--2017/1422. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 512 pp.
- TNC [The Nature Conservancy]. 1995c. NBS/NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Vegetation classification of Assateague Island National Seashore. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Eastern Regional Office, Boston, MA.