Print Report
M081 North American Pacific Coastal Salt Marsh Macrogroup
Type Concept Sentence: This macrogroup consists of coastal intertidal salt marshes dominated by Allenrolfea occidentalis, Batis maritima, Carex lyngbyei, Glaux maritima, Jaumea carnosa, Suaeda spp., and/or Salicornia depressa, among many other species along the Pacific Coast of North America, spanning boreal salt marshes from Alaska to Baja California in Mexico.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: North American Pacific Coastal Salt Marsh Macrogroup
Colloquial Name: North American Pacific Coastal Salt Marsh
Hierarchy Level: Macrogroup
Type Concept: This macrogroup consists of the intertidal salt marshes and brackish marshes found throughout the North American Pacific Coast. Vegetation ranges from very dense thickets to open and sparse. Dominant plant species include Batis maritima, Carex lyngbyei, Carex ramenskii, Distichlis spicata, Eleocharis palustris, Glaux maritima, Hippuris tetraphylla, Honckenya peploides, Hordeum brachyantherum, Jaumea carnosa, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Limonium californicum, Monanthochloe littoralis, Plantago macrocarpa, Puccinellia pumila, Salicornia depressa, Salicornia spp., Spergularia canadensis, Suaeda spp., Triglochin maritima, and/or Triglochin spp. These marshes occur in bays, behind sand spits or other locations protected from wave action. In the Mediterranean region, the salt marshes are dominated by low shrubs, including Salicornia depressa.
Diagnostic Characteristics: In temperate and boreal salt marshes, the coastal herbaceous intertidal salt marshes and brackish marshes are primarily associated with estuaries or coastal lagoons; salt marshes are limited to bays, behind sand spits or other locations protected from wave action. In the Mediterranean region, the salt marshes are dominated by low shrubs (Salicornia depressa).
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: According to M. Peinado (pers. comm. 2014), the concepts for ~North American Pacific Coastal Salt Marsh Macrogroup (M081)$$ and ~Temperate Pacific Salt Marsh Group (G499)$$ are too broad and do not distinguish floristic, ecological and zonal realities (including plant communities) of the salt marshes of the North American Pacific. From the coast of southeast temperate Alaska to southern California, salt marshes show three types of floristic and ecological zonation: Boreal, Temperate and Mediterranean.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Graminoid-dominated herbaceous wetlands flooded daily by saltwater tidal influx. May contain low scattered shrubs.
Floristics: Dominant plant species change from north to south, but communities have many species in common which include Carex lyngbyei, Distichlis spicata, Jaumea carnosa, Salicornia depressa (= Salicornia virginica), and Salicornia spp. High salt marsh and other short-inundation and regularly drying salt marsh or marsh-like settings can be dominated by Allenrolfea occidentalis, Arthrocnemum subterminale, Cressa truxillensis, Distichlis spicata, Frankenia salina, and/or Glaux maritima. Low marshes are located in areas that flood every day and are dominated by a variety of low-growing forbs and low to medium-height graminoids, especially Carex lyngbyei, Carex ramenskii, Glaux maritima, Hippuris tetraphylla, Honckenya peploides, Puccinellia pumila, Salicornia depressa, Schoenoplectus americanus, Bolboschoenus maritimus (= Schoenoplectus maritimus), Spergularia canadensis, and Triglochin maritima. High marshes are located in areas that flood infrequently and are dominated by medium-tall graminoids and low forbs, especially Argentina egedii, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Hordeum brachyantherum, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Plantago macrocarpa, Poa eminens, and Symphyotrichum subspicatum (= Aster subspicatus). Transition zone (slightly brackish) marshes are often dominated by Atriplex prostrata (= Atriplex triangularis), Cordylanthus spp., Juncus mexicanus, Lilaeopsis masonii, Phragmites spp., Schoenoplectus acutus, and Typha spp. The invasive species Lepidium latifolium is a problem in many of these marshes. Rare plant species include Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. maritimus.
In the cool wet climates of northern British Columbia, marshes can be dominated by Plantago maritima and Puccinellia pumila. In the warm summer-dry climes of central California to Baja California and the Sonoran coast, marshes can be sparsely vegetated and are composed of halophytic species such as Allenrolfea occidentalis, Arthrocnemum subterminale, Atriplex spp., Distichlis spicata, Frankenia spp., Limonium californicum, Monanthochloe littoralis, Pluchea spp., Salicornia spp., Salicornia depressa, and Suaeda spp. Floristic data were compiled from Shreve and Wiggins (1964), Sparks et al. (1977), Brown (1982a), Barbour and Major (1988), National Wetlands Working Group (1988), Viereck et al. (1992), Holland and Keil (1995), Sawyer and T. Keeler-Wolf (1995), and Boggs (2000).
In the cool wet climates of northern British Columbia, marshes can be dominated by Plantago maritima and Puccinellia pumila. In the warm summer-dry climes of central California to Baja California and the Sonoran coast, marshes can be sparsely vegetated and are composed of halophytic species such as Allenrolfea occidentalis, Arthrocnemum subterminale, Atriplex spp., Distichlis spicata, Frankenia spp., Limonium californicum, Monanthochloe littoralis, Pluchea spp., Salicornia spp., Salicornia depressa, and Suaeda spp. Floristic data were compiled from Shreve and Wiggins (1964), Sparks et al. (1977), Brown (1982a), Barbour and Major (1988), National Wetlands Working Group (1988), Viereck et al. (1992), Holland and Keil (1995), Sawyer and T. Keeler-Wolf (1995), and Boggs (2000).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Climate: Ranges from temperate to Mediterranean to warm desert. Soil/substrate/hydrology: The frequency of tidal flooding and salinity vary widely. Soils are usually fine-textured and saturated. Primarily associated with estuaries or coastal lagoons, salt marshes are limited to bays, behind sand spits or other locations protected from wave action. These marshes form when there is a freshwater source that mixes with coastal ocean saltwater. Summer-dry periods result in decreased freshwater inputs from inland. Hypersaline environments within salt marshes occur in "salt pans" where tidal water collects and evaporates, and the vegetation can be sparse. Substrates are typically fine-textured and saline alluvium. Vegetation ranges from very dense thickets to open and sparse. Sharp gradients and abrupt shifts in species composition across complex moisture and salinity gradients make for fine-scale patches or bands of vegetation.
Gradients in elevation influence gradients in moisture and in salinity, with highest portions being drier and having higher surface concentrations of salt. Tidal fluctuation is very important and maintains constant moderate salinity and moisture conditions. Low marshes are located in areas that flood every day, while high marshes may only have water during periodic high tides. Environmental data were compiled from Shreve and Wiggins (1964), Sparks et al. (1977), Brown (1982), Barbour and Major (1988), National Wetlands Working Group (1988), Viereck et al. (1992), Holland and Keil (1995), Sawyer and T. Keeler-Wolf (1995), and Boggs (2000).
Gradients in elevation influence gradients in moisture and in salinity, with highest portions being drier and having higher surface concentrations of salt. Tidal fluctuation is very important and maintains constant moderate salinity and moisture conditions. Low marshes are located in areas that flood every day, while high marshes may only have water during periodic high tides. Environmental data were compiled from Shreve and Wiggins (1964), Sparks et al. (1977), Brown (1982), Barbour and Major (1988), National Wetlands Working Group (1988), Viereck et al. (1992), Holland and Keil (1995), Sawyer and T. Keeler-Wolf (1995), and Boggs (2000).
Geographic Range: This macrogroup occurs from Kodiak Island and south-central Alaska, south along the Pacific Coast throughout British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, Baja California and the Sonoran coast along the Gulf of California, including coastal marshes along the Colorado River delta and other river deltas such as the Rio Yaqui.
Nations: CA,MX,US
States/Provinces: AK, BC, CA, MXBCN, MXBCS, MXSON, OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.860696
Confidence Level: High
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.Nc Temperate & Boreal Pacific Coastal Salt Marsh Division | D035 | 2.C.5.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.5.Nc.1 North American Pacific Coastal Salt Marsh Macrogroup | M081 | 2.C.5.Nc.1 |
| Group | 2.C.5.Nc.1.a Lyngbye''s Sedge - Cosmopolitan Bulrush - Sea-milkwort Salt Marsh Group | G499 | 2.C.5.Nc.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Wetlands (217) (Shiflet 1994)
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