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F024 Tropical Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation
Type Concept Sentence: Tropical Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation is found in tropical coastal habitats, including beaches, bluffs and dunes, where wind and water are major drivers of the vegetation, from the equator to 23°N and S latitude. It is dominated by prostrate perennials on the beach and foredune, and graminoids and scrub on backdunes and bluffs.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Tropical Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation
Colloquial Name: Tropical Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation
Hierarchy Level: Formation
Type Concept: Tropical Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation includes upland habitats found along the coast, including beaches, bluffs and dunes, where wind, water, and salinity are major drivers of the vegetation. They extend from the equator to 23°N and S latitude, and occur along both coastal saline waters and large freshwater lakes. Beaches include the strip of sand or gravel that extends from the mean tideline to the top of the foredune (frontal foredune). The dune extends further inland wherever the sandy/gravelly site conditions restrict tree growth (<10% cover). Unconsolidated bluffs (but not marine rock cliffs) are more stable, relatively vertical habitats. The vegetation often has morphological (psammophytic) adaptations to these habitats, including prostrate herbaceous perennial growth forms, with mesomorphic leaves, neither succulent nor sclerophyllous, less commonly with annual herbs, and increasingly with perennial grasses and shrubs on the stabilized backdunes. The tropical coastal vegetation tends to have prostrate or low perennial grasses on the beach and foredune and have woody species (favored by the long growing season) on the backdunes. In drier tropical climates, there may be a shift to xeromorphic desert species.
Diagnostic Characteristics: The vegetation often has morphological (psammophytic) adaptations to these habitats, including prostrate herbaceous perennial growth forms, with mesomorphic leaves, neither succulent nor sclerophyllous, less commonly with annual herbs, and increasingly with perennial grasses and shrubs on the stabilized backdunes. The backdune may have more typical mesomorphic or xeromorphic scrub and herb vegetation.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This formation is only weakly defined by growth forms. It may be a more appropriate division-level distinction, but it does provide a convenient grouping of very similar divisions across the globe; thus it may be a formation, based on global scale coastal ecological processes and justified by a bottom-up perspective. See under 2.B.4. ~Temperate to Polar Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation (F005)$$.
There are windswept inland dunes that can appear similar to coastal environments. They may have established on more ancient coastal shorelines. Review is needed to determine whether the vegetation fits here or in 2.A.1. ~Tropical Lowland Grassland, Savanna & Shrubland Formation (F019)$$.
In temperate coastal habitats, large perennial grasses are found, with a diversity of forbs and with higher wind and wave energy. A zone of ephemerals (such as Cakile, Atriplex, and Salsola) is perhaps more common (Barbour 1992).
There are windswept inland dunes that can appear similar to coastal environments. They may have established on more ancient coastal shorelines. Review is needed to determine whether the vegetation fits here or in 2.A.1. ~Tropical Lowland Grassland, Savanna & Shrubland Formation (F019)$$.
In temperate coastal habitats, large perennial grasses are found, with a diversity of forbs and with higher wind and wave energy. A zone of ephemerals (such as Cakile, Atriplex, and Salsola) is perhaps more common (Barbour 1992).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The vegetation often has morphological (psammophytic) adaptations to the beach, dune and bluff habitats, including prostrate herbaceous perennial growth forms with mesomorphic leaves, neither succulent nor sclerophyllous, less commonly with annual herbs, and increasingly with perennial grasses and shrubs on the stabilized backdunes. The tropical coastal vegetation tends to have prostrate or low perennial grasses on the beach and foredune and woody species (favored by the long growing season) on the backdunes. In drier tropical climates, there may be a shift to xeromorphic desert species (Barbour 1992).
Floristics: No Data Available
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Tropical Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation includes upland habitats found along the coast, including beaches, bluffs and dunes, where wind, water, and salinity are major drivers of the vegetation. Beaches include the strip of sand or gravel that extends from the mean tideline to the top of the foredune (frontal foredune). The dune extends further inland wherever the sandy/gravelly site conditions restrict tree growth (<10% cover). Unconsolidated bluffs (but not marine rock cliffs) are more stable, relatively vertical habitats (Barbour 1992).
Beach sand is typically enriched with nutrients and organic matter from the sea or lake. The permeability of the sandy substrate permits drainage and leaching, with a tendency towards arid systems. Proximity to the sea or lake induces permanently high air humidity and reduces climatic extremes. Sea-level changes constantly rework the substrate (Seeliger 1992). Winds are a constant influence.
Beach sand is typically enriched with nutrients and organic matter from the sea or lake. The permeability of the sandy substrate permits drainage and leaching, with a tendency towards arid systems. Proximity to the sea or lake induces permanently high air humidity and reduces climatic extremes. Sea-level changes constantly rework the substrate (Seeliger 1992). Winds are a constant influence.
Geographic Range: This formation is found in tropical coastal habitats, including beaches, bluffs and dunes, from the equator to 23°N and S latitude.
Nations: AS,AU,FM,GU,MP,MX,PR,PW,US,WS
States/Provinces: No Data Available
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.860259
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.A Tropical Grassland, Savanna & Shrubland Subclass | S01 | 2.A |
| Formation | 2.A.3 Tropical Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation | F024 | 2.A.3 |
| Division | 2.A.3.Ee Caribbean-Mesoamerican Dune & Coastal Grassland & Shrubland Division | D254 | 2.A.3.Ee |
| Division | 2.A.3.Ob Polynesian Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Division | D078 | 2.A.3.Ob |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Coastal foredunes of southern Brazil (Seeliger 1992) [The author uses the vegetation type as a name for a chapter in a book on Latin American coastal plant communities. Beaches are not described.]
= The Dune Plant Community (Seeliger 1992) [The author uses the vegetation type as a name for a section in a book on Latin American coastal plant communities. Beaches and dunes are included.]
= The Dune Plant Community (Seeliger 1992) [The author uses the vegetation type as a name for a section in a book on Latin American coastal plant communities. Beaches and dunes are included.]
- Barbour, M. G. 1992. Life at the leading edge: The beach plant syndrome. Pages 291-307 in: U. Seeliger, editor. Coastal Plant Communities of Latin America. Academic Press, Inc., New York.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., T. Keeler-Wolf, D. Meidinger, C. Josse, A. Weakley, D. Tart, G. Navarro, B. Hoagland, S. Ponomarenko, J.-P. Saucier, G. Fults, and E. Helmer. 2015c. Classification and description of world formation types. General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-000. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, CO.
- Seeliger, U. 1992. Coastal foredunes of southern Brazil: Physiography, habitats and vegetation. Pages 367-381 in: U. Seeliger, editor. Coastal Plant Communities of Latin America. Academic Press, Inc., New York.