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G479 Caribbean Karstic Dry Scrub Group
Type Concept Sentence: This group occurs as very dense, 2- to 3-m high shrubland with emergent trees, and columnar or tree-shaped cacti. It occurs on well-drained bare rock of limestone terraces and on karst "dogtooth" terrain on Caribbean Islands.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Caribbean Karstic Dry Scrub Group
Colloquial Name: Caribbean Karstic Dry Scrub
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group occurs on bare rock of limestone terraces and on lowland karstic "dogtooth" terrain. It occurs as very dense, 2- to 3-m high shrubland with emergent individual trees or groups of trees. Columnar or tree-shaped cacti may occur but are never dominant. The Cuban scrub on limestone substrate is dominated by the shrubs Auerodendron cubense, Coccothrinax munizii, Cordia leucosebestena, Eugenia cowellii, Jacquinia berteroi, Picrodendron macrocarpum, Polygala guantanamana, Randia spinifex, cacti Consolea macracantha, Dendrocereus nudiflorus, Harrisia fernowii, Melocactus acunae, Pilosocereus brooksianus, and succulent Agave albescens, while this type in Puerto Rico features the endemic Harrisia portoricensis and shrubs Croton discolor, Croton betulinus, Erithalis fruticosa, Plumeria obtusa, and Reynosia uncinata. In the Lesser Antilles typical species of the mixed cactus scrub on limestone pavement include Agave karatto, Capparis cynophallophora, Capparis indica, Clerodendrum aculeatum, Haematoxylum campechianum, Leucaena leucocephala, Pilosocereus royenii, Pisonia aculeata, Pisonia subcordata, and Pithecellobium unguis-cati. In the Bahamas, when the limestone pavement community occurs right above the water table and there is more moisture available, characteristic species include Sideroxylon americanum, Bursera simaruba, Cephalocereus sp., Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense, Coccoloba northropiae, Coccoloba tenuifolia, Guettarda scabra, Manilkara jaimiqui ssp. emarginata, Pithecellobium bahamense, Psidium longipes, Randia aculeata, Stigmaphyllon sagraeanum, and Tabebuia bahamensis.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
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: This group occurs as very dense, 2- to 3-m high shrubland with emergent individual trees or groups of trees. Columnar or tree-shaped cacti may occur but are never dominant.
Floristics: The Cuban scrub on limestone substrate is dominated by the shrubs Auerodendron cubense, Coccothrinax munizii, Cordia leucosebestena, Eugenia cowellii, Jacquinia berteroi, Picrodendron macrocarpum, Polygala guantanamana, Randia spinifex, cacti Consolea macracantha, Dendrocereus nudiflorus, Harrisia fernowii, Melocactus acunae, Pilosocereus brooksianus, and succulent Agave albescens (Huggins et al. 2007), while this type in Puerto Rico features the endemic cactus Harrisia portoricensis and shrubs Croton discolor, Croton betulinus, Erithalis fruticosa, Plumeria obtusa, and Reynosia uncinata (Rojas-Sandoval and Meléndez-Ackerman 2012, Medina et al. 2014), Amyris elemifera, Bucida buceras, Bursera simaruba, Capparis cynophallophora, Colubrina arborescens, Guaiacum sanctum, Gymnanthes lucida, Pictetia aculeata, Pisonia albida, Plumeria alba, Sideroxylon salicifolium (= Dipholis salicifolia), Thouinia striata var. portoricensis (= Thouinia portoricensis), Ziziphus reticulata (= Sarcomphalus reticulatus), and cacti Pilosocereus royenii (= Cephalocereus royenii) and Consolea rubescens (Huggins et al. 2007). In the Lesser Antilles typical species of the mixed cactus scrub on limestone pavement include Agave karatto, Capparis cynophallophora, Capparis indica, Clerodendrum aculeatum, Haematoxylum campechianum, Leucaena leucocephala, Pilosocereus royenii, Pisonia aculeata, Pisonia subcordata, and Pithecellobium unguis-cati (Areces-Mallea et al. 1999). In the Bahamas, when the limestone pavement community occurs right above the water table and there is more moisture available, characteristic species include Sideroxylon americanum (= Bumelia americana), Bursera simaruba, Cephalocereus sp., Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense, Coccoloba northropiae, Coccoloba tenuifolia, Guettarda scabra, Manilkara jaimiqui ssp. emarginata (= Manilkara bahamensis), Pithecellobium bahamense, Psidium longipes, Randia aculeata, Stigmaphyllon sagraeanum, and Tabebuia bahamensis (Areces-Mallea et al. 1999).
Dynamics: Droughts and hurricanes are the main drivers of the natural dynamics of this group. Low rainfall intensities of 76 mm/d have a recurrence interval of 1 year while high rainfall intensities of >305 mm/d are possible during hurricane conditions or when low-pressure systems become stationary. These events have a recurrence interval of 100 years (Gómez Gómez 1984). Forests and other natural ecosystems of the limestone region recover quickly from hurricanes and storms (Wadsworth and Englerth 1959, as cited in Lugo et al. 2001). Moreover, these events transport vast amounts of freshwater to the island and trigger many ecologically beneficial functions such as the reproduction of karst forest plants and animals, and the maintenance of the hydrologic cycle of the karst area.
Environmental Description: Climate: Overall temperature averages at sea level are mostly in the range of 25-27°C. Annual precipitation ranges from 600 to 1500 mm for the distribution range of this group. The dry season is usually limited to one period that can last for 2-6 months, or divided into two periods together lasting up to 8 months. The main dry period is usually between January and April; there may be a second dry period in more southerly latitudes in July to September.
Soil/substrate/hydrology: This group occurs on bare rock of limestone terraces and on lowland karstic "dogtooth" terrain. The limestone substrate has low water-retention capacity, and rainfall leaches easily after accumulating in cracks and crevices of variable depth. Other substrates where communities of this group develop also exhibit actual drought during periods of low rainfall and physiological drought due to impeded drainage and waterlogging during periods of high rainfall.
Soil/substrate/hydrology: This group occurs on bare rock of limestone terraces and on lowland karstic "dogtooth" terrain. The limestone substrate has low water-retention capacity, and rainfall leaches easily after accumulating in cracks and crevices of variable depth. Other substrates where communities of this group develop also exhibit actual drought during periods of low rainfall and physiological drought due to impeded drainage and waterlogging during periods of high rainfall.
Geographic Range: This group occurs in karst uplands of the Greater Antilles.
Nations: CU,DO,JM,PR
States/Provinces: No Data Available
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.860785
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.1 Tropical Lowland Grassland, Savanna & Shrubland Formation | F019 | 2.A.1 |
| Division | 2.A.1.Ea Caribbean-Mesoamerican Lowland Grassland, Savanna & Shrubland Division | D094 | 2.A.1.Ea |
| Macrogroup | 2.A.1.Ea.1 Catclaw Blackbead - Prickly-pear species - Agave species Scrub Macrogroup | M671 | 2.A.1.Ea.1 |
| Group | 2.A.1.Ea.1.b Caribbean Karstic Dry Scrub Group | G479 | 2.A.1.Ea.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Puerto Rico land cover type 10, Coastal dwarf woodland and shrubland (Gould et al. 2008)
> Puerto Rico land cover type 8, Lowland dry limestone shrubland (Gould et al. 2008)
> Puerto Rico land cover type 8, Lowland dry limestone shrubland (Gould et al. 2008)
- 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.
- 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]
- Franklin, J., and D. W. Steadman. 2013. The winter bird communities in pine woodland vs. broadleaf forest on Abaco, The Bahamas. Caribbean Naturalist 3:1-18.
- Gould, W. A., C. Alarcón, B. Fevold, M. E. Jiménez, S. Martinuzzi, G. Potts, M. Quiñones, M. Solórzano, and E. Ventosa. 2008. The Puerto Rico Gap Analysis Project. Volume 1: Land cover, vertebrate species distributions, and land stewardship. General Technical Report IITF-GTR-39. USDA Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry, Río Piedras, PR. 165 pp.
- Gómez Gómez, F. 1984. Water resources of the lower Río Grande de Manatí valley, Puerto Rico. Water Resources Investigations Report 83-4199. U.S. Geological Survey, San Juan, PR. 42 pp.
- Huggins, A. E., S. Keel, P. Kramer, F. Núñez, S. Schill, R. Jeo, A. Chatwin, K. Thurlow, M. McPherson, M. Libby, R. Tingey, M. Palmer, and R. Seybert. 2007. Biodiversity conservation assessment of the insular Caribbean using the Caribbean Decision Support System, Technical Report, The Nature Conservancy.
- 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.
- Lugo, A. E., L. M. Castro, A. Vale, T. del Mar López, E. H. Prieto, A. G. Martinó, A. R. Puente Rolón, A. G. Tossas, D. A. McFarlane, T. Miller, A. Rodríguez, J. Lundberg, J. Thomlinson, J. Colón, J. H. Schellekens, O. Ramos, and E. Helmer. 2001. Puerto Rican karst: A vital resource. General Technical Report WO- 65. USDA Forest Service, Washington, DC. [http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/karst.pdf]
- Medina, E., E. H. Helmer, E. Meléndez-Ackerman, and H. Marcano-Vega. 2014. Natural vegetation groups and canopy chemical markers in a dry subtropical forest on calcareous substrate: The vegetation of Mona Island, Puerto Rico. Caribbean Naturalist 13:1-15.
- Murphy, P. G., and A. E. Lugo. 1995. Dry forests of Central America and the Caribbean. Pages 9-34 in: S. H. Bullock, H. A. Mooney, and E. Medina, editors. Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
- Rojas-Sandoval, J., and E. Meléndez-Ackerman. 2012a. Effects of an invasive grass on the demography of the Caribbean cactus Harrisia portoricensis: Implications for cacti conservation. Acta Oecologica 41:30-38.