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G004 Rhizophora mangle Forest Group
Type Concept Sentence: This group includes tidal fringe mangrove and tidal riverine mangrove of the Caribbean, dominated by Rhizophora mangle. This group attains best development in low wave-energy, depositional environments.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Red Mangrove Forest Group
Colloquial Name: Caribbean Fringe Mangrove
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This tidal forest wetland group of the Caribbean occurs in low-energy tidal areas and along intertidal shorelines. The primary species comprising this group is Rhizophora mangle, with essentially tropical affinities and intolerant of cold temperatures. This group attains best development in low wave-energy, depositional environments. Examples occur on soils generally saturated with brackish water at all times and which become inundated during high tides. The brackish environment tends to limit competition from other species. This group includes tidal fringe mangrove forests and the tidal riverine mangrove forests dominated by Rhizophora mangle.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This group is dominated by Rhizophora mangle and occurs in tidal brackish or saltwater situations, including forests along tidal rivers and creeks. This group does not include the mangrove vegetation of hypersaline areas, which are not dominated by Rhizophora mangle.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Although at least three broad variants of mangrove vegetation in Florida can be recognized, i.e., riverine mangrove forests, fringe mangrove forests, and basin mangrove forests (Lugo et al. 1988), this group includes tidal fringe mangrove forests and the tidal riverine mangrove forests dominated by Rhizophora mangle.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These are evergreen forests. The trees of Rhizophora mangle have extensive prop roots.
Floristics: The primary species comprising this group is a true mangrove, Rhizophora mangle. The combined stresses of flooding and salinity tend to result in limited competition (FNAI 1990), lack of plant species richness, and relatively simple stand structure (Mendelssohn and McKee 1988). However, other salt-tolerant species may also be present. Broad classifications of mangroves have included six types (Lugo and Snedaker 1974) and more recently three broad variants (Lugo et al. 1988), i.e., riverine mangrove forests, fringe mangrove forests, and basin mangrove forests [see also Mendelssohn and McKee (1988)]. This group includes tidal fringe mangrove forests and the tidal riverine mangrove forests dominated by Rhizophora mangle.
Dynamics: Mangroves are limited by the effects of freezing weather, as they are not adapted to freezing (Lugo and Zucca 1977). Hurricanes also reduce mangrove forests. For example, a well-developed mangrove forest with trees up to 60 cm (2 feet) in diameter and 150 years old was destroyed by Hurricane Donna in 1960 (Craighead 1971). Hurricane Andrew in 1992 resulted in areas of mangrove being knocked down by wind. The regeneration of these mangroves since 1992 has been studied. The pulses of the tides and freshwater runoff are also very important factors in the dynamics of mangroves and the distribution of the different mangrove species. Fringe mangroves are flushed by regular tides, and many areas have significant brackish water influence (i.e., riverine mangrove). Lightning is also an important disturbance factor, causing mangrove trees to die in small areas around lightning strikes.
Environmental Description: Climate: Mangroves are essentially tropical species that occur only infrequently in areas where the average annual temperature is below 19°C; fluctuations greater than 10°C and short-duration freezes are detrimental to all species. Frost temperatures only occur in the Florida part of its range (A.E. Lugo pers. comm. 2011). As frost frequency increases, species substitutions occur, black mangroves move to the fringe, and they become scrubby. The relation of mangroves with salt marshes is inverse to frost frequency (Kangas and Lugo 1990). Low-temperature stress leads to decreased height, leaf area, and increased tree density (Odum and McIvor 1990). Rhizophora reaches approximately 29°N latitude on both coasts of Florida (Rehm 1976, Teas 1977, Odum et al. 1982). However, the northern limits of mangrove species fluctuate due to short-term climatic swings making exact delineations impossible.
Soil/substrate/hydrology: Mangroves are affected by substrate type and wave energy, with best development in low wave-energy, depositional environments; high wave energy prevents establishment and may destroy their shallow root systems (Odum and McIvor 1990). The species sometimes sort along salinity gradients, with Rhizophora limited to salinities below 60-65 ppt, while Avicennia and Laguncularia tolerate levels above 80-95 ppt [see references in Odum and McIvor (1990)]. Elsewhere, including Mexico and Puerto Rico, Laguncularia racemosa can grow at a wide range of salinity, reaching its greater heights where salinity is very low (A.E. Lugo pers. comm. 2011).
Soil/substrate/hydrology: Mangroves are affected by substrate type and wave energy, with best development in low wave-energy, depositional environments; high wave energy prevents establishment and may destroy their shallow root systems (Odum and McIvor 1990). The species sometimes sort along salinity gradients, with Rhizophora limited to salinities below 60-65 ppt, while Avicennia and Laguncularia tolerate levels above 80-95 ppt [see references in Odum and McIvor (1990)]. Elsewhere, including Mexico and Puerto Rico, Laguncularia racemosa can grow at a wide range of salinity, reaching its greater heights where salinity is very low (A.E. Lugo pers. comm. 2011).
Geographic Range: This group is best developed in the Caribbean, including southern Florida, extending north in Florida to approximately 29°N latitude on both coasts. In Florida, mangrove forests occur primarily along saltwater shorelines in southern Florida, in backbays and estuary fringes with mild wave action. It is most prevalent in the Ten Thousand Islands in southwest Florida (Soil Conservation Service 1981a).
Nations: BS,CO,CU,MQ,MX,PR,US,VE,XC
States/Provinces: FL, MXTAM, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.835946
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.A Tropical Forest & Woodland Subclass | S17 | 1.A |
| Formation | 1.A.5 Mangrove Formation | F006 | 1.A.5 |
| Division | 1.A.5.Ua Atlantic-Caribbean & East Pacific Mangrove Division | D004 | 1.A.5.Ua |
| Macrogroup | 1.A.5.Ua.3 Black Mangrove - White Mangrove - Red Mangrove Macrogroup | M005 | 1.A.5.Ua.3 |
| Group | 1.A.5.Ua.3.b Red Mangrove Forest Group | G004 | 1.A.5.Ua.3.b |
| Alliance | A0473 Button Mangrove Fringe Mangrove Alliance | A0473 | 1.A.5.Ua.3.b |
| Alliance | A3188 Red Mangrove Fringe Mangrove Alliance | A3188 | 1.A.5.Ua.3.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Tidal Swamp (FNAI 1990)
- Albert, R. 1975. Salt regulation in halophytes. Oecologia 21:57-71.
- Craighead, F. C., Jr. 1971. The trees of south Florida. Volume I. The natural environments and their succession. University of Miami Press, Coral Gables. 212 pp.
- FNAI [Florida Natural Areas Inventory]. 1990. Guide to the natural communities of Florida. Florida Natural Areas Inventory and Florida Department of Natural Resources, Tallahassee. 111 pp.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
- Kangas, P., and A. Lugo. 1990. The distribution of mangroves and saltmarshes in Florida. Tropical Ecology 31:32-39.
- Lugo, A. E., S. Brown, and M. M. Brinson. 1988. Forested wetlands in freshwater and salt-water environments. Limnology and Oceanography 33:894-909.
- Lugo, A. E., and C. P. Zucca. 1977. The impact of low temperature stress on mangrove structure and growth. Tropical Ecology 18:149-161.
- Lugo, A. E., and S. C. Snedaker. 1974. The ecology of mangroves. Annual Review of Ecological Systems 5:39-64.
- Lugo, Ariel. Personal communication. Director, International Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest Service, USA.
- Mendelssohn, I. A., and K. L. McKee. 1988. Saltmarshes and mangroves. Pages 501-536 in: M. G. Barbour and W. D. Billings, editors. North American terrestrial vegetation. Cambridge University Press, New York. 434 pp.
- Odum, W. E., C. C. McIvor, and T. J. Smith, III. 1982. The ecology of the mangroves of south Florida: A community profile. USDI Fish & Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services. Report No. FWS/OBS/-81/24. Washington, DC. 144 pp.
- Odum, W. E., and C. C. McIvor. 1990. Mangroves. Pages 517-548 in: R. L. Myers and J. J. Ewel, editors. Ecosystems of Florida. University of Central Florida Press, Orlando.
- Rehm, A. E. 1976. The effects of the wood-boring isopod, Sphaeroma terebrans, on the mangrove communities of Florida. Environmental Conservation 3:47-57.
- Ross, M. S., J. J. O''Brien, and L. J. Flynn. 1992. Ecological site classification of Florida Keys terrestrial habitats. Biotropica 24:488-502.
- Savage, T. 1972. Florida mangroves as shoreline stabilizers. Florida Department of Natural Resources Professional Paper No. 19.
- Sherrod, C. L., and C. McMillan. 1985. The distributional history and ecology of mangrove vegetation along the northern Gulf of Mexico coastal region. Contributions to Marine Science 28:129-140.
- Soil Conservation Service. 1981a. Ecological communities of Florida. USDA Soil Conservation Service, Gainesville, FL.
- Teas, H. 1977. Ecology and restoration of mangrove shorelines in Florida. Environmental Conservation 4:51-57.