Print Report
M180 Indo-Pacific & Caribbean Seagrass Vegetation Macrogroup
Type Concept Sentence: This macrogroup is dominated by species of seagrasses, including Cymodocea, Halodule, Halophila, and Thalassia occurring in tropical and warm-temperate estuarine and coastal waters in the western Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, southwestern Pacific, Indian Ocean, Red Sea, and Persian Gulf.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Indo-Pacific & Caribbean Seagrass Vegetation Macrogroup
Colloquial Name: Indo-Pacific & Caribbean Seagrass Vegetation
Hierarchy Level: Macrogroup
Type Concept: This macrogroup occurs in tropical and warm-temperate estuarine waters. Cymodocea filiformis, Halodule wrightii, Halophila engelmannii, and Thalassia testudinum are characteristic species of this seagrass macrogroup in the western Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. Other species of Cymodocea, Halodule, Halophila, and Thalassia occur in the southwestern Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean, and are also characteristic of this macrogroup. In the western Atlantic Ocean, it is found in coastal areas of North Carolina and Florida to Mexico along the Gulf coast of North America, and throughout the Caribbean Sea. It also occurs along coastal areas of the southwestern Pacific, Indian Ocean, Red Sea, and Persian Gulf. 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.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Cymodocea filiformis, Halodule wrightii, Halophila engelmannii, and Thalassia testudinum are characteristic species of this seagrass macrogroup in the western Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. Other species of Cymodocea, Halodule, Halophila, and Thalassia occur in the southwestern Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean, and are also characteristic of this macrogroup.
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, Cymodocea filiformis, Halodule wrightii and Halophila engelmannii are characteristic species of this seagrass macrogroup in the western Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. Other species of Cymodocea, Halodule, Halophila, and Thalassia occur in the southwestern Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.
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. In coastal waters of Florida, Halodule wrightii is an early-successional species and may colonize recently disturbed areas. Cymodocea filiformis and Thalassia testudinum are considered competitively dominant to Halodule wrightii, and they may succeed this species in moderately saline and stable environments. Halophila engelmannii typically occurs in deep coastal waters with low wave energy, such as Florida''s Big Bend area.
Environmental Description: Climate: This macrogroup occurs in tropical and warm-temperate estuarine waters. Soil/substrate/hydrology: In general, this macrogroup occurs at depths of 1-4 m in warm seawaters (salinity greater than 17 ppt), on a variety of substrate textures.
Geographic Range: This macrogroup occurs in tropical and warm-temperate estuarine waters, in the western Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, southwestern Pacific, Indian Ocean, Red Sea, and Persian Gulf (Green and Short 2003).
Nations: AE,AU,BS,CU,ID,IN,JM,KE,KN,MQ,MX,MY,MZ,OM,PH,PR,SA,TH,TZ,US,XE,YE
States/Provinces: AL?, FL, LA, MS, MXROO, MXTAM, MXVER, NC, SC?, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.860470
Confidence Level: Low
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 |
| Group | 5.A.3.Xd.3.c Shoalweed - Seagrass species Seagrass Bed Group | G377 | 5.A.3.Xd.3.c |
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-Thalassion Alliance (Borhidi 1991)
= Class 2 Halodulo-Thalassietea Den Hartog 1976 (Den Hartog 2003)
> Syringodio-Thalassion Alliance (Borhidi 1991)
= Class 2 Halodulo-Thalassietea Den Hartog 1976 (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]
- Green, E. P., and F. T. Short, editors. 2003. World atlas of seagrasses. Prepared by the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre. University of California Press, Berkeley.
- 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.