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G376 Cymodocea filiformis - Thalassia testudinum Seagrass Bed Group
Type Concept Sentence: Thalassia testudinum and Cymodocea filiformis are characteristic species of this seagrass vegetation which occurs rooted in a variety of substrates at depths of 1-4 m in warm seawaters (salinity greater than 17 ppt), including the large seagrass beds of Florida''s Big Bend, Florida Bay and the Laguna Madre of south Texas.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Manatee-grass - Turtle-grass Seagrass Bed Group
Colloquial Name: Caribbean Seagrass Bed
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group occurs in tropical and warm-temperate waters. In the western Atlantic Ocean, it is found from Florida to Mexico along the Gulf Coast of North America, throughout the Caribbean, and extends up the Atlantic Coast of Florida as far north as the St. Johns River. In general, this group occurs at depths of 1-4 m in warm seawaters (salinity greater than 17 ppt), on a variety of substrate textures. These seagrasses are not capable of growing in freshwater and are not found in the oligohaline upper reaches of estuaries and lower reaches of tidal creeks, bayous and rivers. The large seagrass beds of Florida''s Big Bend, Florida Bay and the Laguna Madre of south Texas support examples of this group.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Thalassia testudinum and Cymodocea filiformis are characteristic species of this seagrass group. In general, this group occurs at depths of 1-4 m in warm seawaters (salinity greater than 17 ppt).
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Submerged aquatic vegetation, herbaceous plants which are rhizomatous and can form extensive beds.
Floristics: Thalassia testudinum and Cymodocea filiformis are characteristic species of this seagrass group.
Dynamics: As a result of natural climatic perturbations, such as tropical storms, hurricanes and human-induced disturbances, seagrass beds are often dynamic in their composition and size. Cymodocea filiformis and Thalassia testudinum are considered competitively dominant to Halodule wrightii, and they may succeed this species in moderately saline and stable environments.
Environmental Description: Climate: This group occurs in tropical and warm-temperate estuarine waters. Soil/substrate/hydrology: In general, this group occurs submerged at depths of 1-4 m in warm seawaters (salinity greater than 17 ppt), on a variety of substrate textures.
Geographic Range: This group is found in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Martinique, St. Kitts and Nevis, Hispaniola, and elsewhere in the Caribbean region. It possibly occurs in Chandeleur Sound, Louisiana.
Nations: BS,CU,JM,KN,MQ,MX,PR,US,XE
States/Provinces: AL?, FL, LA, MS, MXROO, MXTAM, MXVER, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.837455
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.3 Benthic Vascular Saltwater Vegetation Formation | F054 | 5.A.3 |
| Division | 5.A.3.Xd Tropical Saltwater Vegetation Division | D063 | 5.A.3.Xd |
| Macrogroup | 5.A.3.Xd.3 Indo-Pacific & Caribbean Seagrass Vegetation Macrogroup | M180 | 5.A.3.Xd.3 |
| Group | 5.A.3.Xd.3.a Manatee-grass - Turtle-grass Seagrass Bed Group | G376 | 5.A.3.Xd.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Syringodio-Thalassietum (Borhidi et al. 1983)
? Syringodio-Thalassietum Association (Borhidi 1991)
>< Syringodio-Thalassion Alliance (Borhidi 1991)
? Class 2 Halodulo-Thalassietea Den Hartog 1976, Order B Thalassietalia Den Hartog 1976, Alliance 3 Syringodio-Thalassion testudinum nom. nov. (Den Hartog 2003)
? Syringodio-Thalassietum Association (Borhidi 1991)
>< Syringodio-Thalassion Alliance (Borhidi 1991)
? Class 2 Halodulo-Thalassietea Den Hartog 1976, Order B Thalassietalia Den Hartog 1976, Alliance 3 Syringodio-Thalassion testudinum nom. nov. (Den Hartog 2003)
- Borhidi, A. 1991. Phytogeography and vegetation ecology of Cuba. Akademiai Kiado. Budapest, Hungary. 858 pp. plus color plates and map by A. Borhidi and O. Muniz (1970) inside of back cover.
- Borhidi, A., O. Muñiz, and E. del Risco. 1983. Plant communities of Cuba I. Fresh- and salt water, swamp, and coastal vegetation. Acta Bot. Acad. Sci. Hung. 29:337-376.
- Den Hartog, C. 2003. Phytosociological classification of seagrass communities. Phytocoenologia 33(2-3):203-229.
- 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]
- Wieland, R. G. 1994a. Marine and estuarine habitat types and associated ecological communities of the Mississippi Coast. Museum Technical Report 25. Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Museum of Natural Science, Jackson, MS. 270 pp.