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G449 Caribbean Montane Rocky Riverine Scrub Group
Type Concept Sentence: Open woodlands and thickets of the riverbanks of the headwaters and mid-elevation rivers of the Caribbean Islands.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Caribbean Montane Rocky Riverine Scrub Group
Colloquial Name: Caribbean Montane Rocky Riverine Scrub
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group is composed of riparian communities along rivers and creeks, including forests and woody grass thickets. Due to human alteration and flash floods, it is common to find secondary stands with tall sedges or bamboos. Being montane vegetation, generally these communities occur at the riverbanks of headwater streams and mid-elevation rivers.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: References about riparian plant communities in the upland and montane areas of the Caribbean region, which are not subject of extensive flooding, are very scarce and superficial. One reason might be the very small areas occupied by this type of vegetation. Therefore, the list of species and other environmental features provided to characterize this group most likely are incomplete.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This group consists of riparian communities along rivers and creeks, including open, short-statured forests and woody grass thickets.
Floristics: The following list of species is diagnostic for this group: Bucida buceras, Dalbergia ecastophyllum, Gynerium sagittatum, Lonchocarpus domingensis, Lysiloma latisiliquum (= Lysiloma bahamense), and Roystonea regia. In Puerto Rico, Pterocarpus officinalis and Sapium laurocerasus are typical; the mountain palm Prestoea acuminata var. montana (= Prestoea montana) is another common species in this type of habitat. The exotic grasses Arundo donax and Bambusa vulgaris may be found in examples of this vegetation.
Dynamics: Due to human alteration and flash floods, it is common to find secondary stands with tall sedges or bamboos.
Environmental Description: Riverbanks at mid to high elevations with alluvial substrate subject to flash flooding. Climate: Submontane and montane areas where this vegetation occurs are associated with annual rainfall of over 1600 mm and mean temperature of 18-19°C. Soil/substrate/hydrology: Riverbanks with alluvial substrate subject to flash flooding.
Geographic Range: This group may occur in most islands of the Caribbean with catchments above 400 m elevation and humid climate.
Nations: CU,JM,PR,XC
States/Provinces: No Data Available
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.860753
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.3 Tropical Montane Humid Forest Formation | F004 | 1.A.3 |
| Division | 1.A.3.Eg Caribbean-Mesoamerican Montane Humid Forest Division | D228 | 1.A.3.Eg |
| Macrogroup | 1.A.3.Eg.1 Caribbean Montane Humid Forest Macrogroup | M598 | 1.A.3.Eg.1 |
| Group | 1.A.3.Eg.1.b Caribbean Montane Rocky Riverine Scrub Group | G449 | 1.A.3.Eg.1.b |
Concept Lineage: G450 concept covered by G449 (CJ 5-14-13)
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Areces-Mallea, A. E., A. S. Weakley, X. Li, R. G. Sayre, J. D. Parrish, C. V. Tipton, and T. Boucher. 1999. A guide to Caribbean vegetation types: Preliminary classification system and descriptions. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA. 166 pp.
- 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.
- Dansereau, P. 1966. Studies on the vegetation of Puerto Rico. Part I. Description and integration of the plant-communities. University of Puerto Rico, Institute of Caribbean Sciences. Special Publication No. 1. Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. 287 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]
- Josse, C., G. Navarro, P. Comer, R. Evans, D. Faber-Langendoen, M. Fellows, G. Kittel, S. Menard, M. Pyne, M. Reid, K. Schulz, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2003. Ecological systems of Latin America and the Caribbean: A working classification of terrestrial systems. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
- Tolentino, L., and M. Peña. 1998. Inventario de la vegetacion y uso de la tierra en la Republica Dominicana. Moscosoa 10:179-202.