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G477 West Caribbean Karstic Forest Group
Type Concept Sentence: Dry forests on the slopes and tops of towerlike karstic hills and the narrow valleys and gorges in between. Leaf scleromorphy as well as a high proportion of deciduous tree species characterize these forests. Forest structure varies depending on the position on the hill and the substrate, but water stress is common.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: West Caribbean Karstic Forest Group
Colloquial Name: West Caribbean Karstic Forest
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group includes the steep slopes and plateaus of towerlike karstic hills up to 300-600 m elevation, with bare karstic rock or more-or-less eroded skeletal soils, or limestone cliffs, and the narrow valleys and gorges in between. Puerto Rican karst forests, regardless of rainfall conditions, share common characteristics, including physiognomy and leaf characteristics. Karst forests are characterized by trees of small diameter, high tree density, and leaf scleromorphy. Stands have a tendency to show signs of being exposed to frequent drought conditions. Even in the moist and wet karst belt, forests have a high proportion of deciduous tree species and show a high degree of scleromorphism. This is probably due to the rapid rate of runoff and infiltration of rainwater, low water storage in shallow soils, and high sunlight. At the base of mogotes the forest can be mesic with a closed canopy of evergreen species 25-30 m tall. On slopes and tops the vegetation is a deciduous forest/woodland with trees of 16-18 m and sclerophyllous leaves. In Cuban mogotes, the slope forest has a 10- to 16-m high open canopy of deciduous trees with barrel-like trunks and abundant columnar cacti, but can grade to a shrubland dominated by terrestrial bromeliads and diverse sclerophyllous shrubs and trees.
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: Karst forests are characterized by trees of small diameter, high tree density, and leaf scleromorphy. Stands have a tendency to show signs of being exposed to frequent drought conditions. Even in the moist and wet karst belt, forests have a high proportion of deciduous tree species and show a high degree of scleromorphism (Chinea 1980, Lugo et al. 2001).
Floristics: The following list of species is diagnostic for this group: Agave tubulata, Agave spp., Alvaradoa arborescens, Bernardia dichotoma, Bombacopsis cubensis, Catalpa brevipes, Ceratopyxis verbenacea, Coccothrinax elegans, Colubrina elliptica, Cordia alliodora, Dendropanax arboreus, Eugenia galeata, Eugenia monticola (= Eugenia maleolens), Forsteronia corymbosa, Gaussia princeps, Guettarda calcicola, Hohenbergia penduliflora, Leptocereus assurgens, Malpighia roigiana, Microcycas calocoma, Omphalea hypoleuca, Pilosocereus brooksianus, Plumeria emarginata, Plumeria spp., Psidium vicentinum, Siemensia pendula, Spathelia brittonii, Swietenia mahagoni, Tabebuia albicans(?), Thrinax punctulata, Tillandsia spp., Trichilia havanensis, Vriesea dissitiflora, and Zanthoxylum spinosum. In Puerto Rico, Dendropanax arboreus and Quararibea turbinata are common in the mesic forest, Coccoloba diversifolia and Bursera simaruba in the deciduous forest, and Clusia rosea on the cliffs. Puerto Rican forests have few dominant trees and a large number of rare or uncommon species (Lugo et al. 2001).
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, 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 hydrological cycle of the karst area (Lugo et al. 2001).
Environmental Description: Climate: The climate of the Greater Antilles is subtropical, with a dry season. The northwestern part of Puerto Rico has climate gradients, drying from east to west and with more rainfall at higher elevations from the northern coast towards the highlands to the south. Tradewinds are mainly from the northeast (Lugo et al. 2001). Other islands of the Greater Antilles also have local climate patterns influenced by tradewinds, topography and orthographic effects.
Soil/substrate/hydrology: In northern Puerto Rico karst, mogotes are isolated, steep-sided hills or towers that rise out of the blanket sand deposits. Mogotes may be aligned in ridges along which they form a series of sawteeth. Solution caves are visible on the sides of the mogotes, but they don''t usually pass through the hill. Mogotes have a rounded or pointed hard cap, generally 5 to 10 m thick. Reprecipitated limestone on slopes tends to form nearly vertical slopes. Since the rate of this process is dependent on climatic factors which are not uniform around the hill, the mogote tends to become asymmetric, with a steep slope on one side and a gentler slope on the other (Lugo et al. 2001). The group includes a diversity of vegetation types resulting from ecological gradients due to different exposures to precipitation, wind and substrates, with deep fertile soils in valleys and shallow, rocky, and infertile soils on tops of mogotes, and slopes exhibiting intermediate edaphic conditions (Aukema et al. 2007). Karst mogotes also occur at Los Haitises in the Dominican Republic (Huggins et al. 2007).
Soil/substrate/hydrology: In northern Puerto Rico karst, mogotes are isolated, steep-sided hills or towers that rise out of the blanket sand deposits. Mogotes may be aligned in ridges along which they form a series of sawteeth. Solution caves are visible on the sides of the mogotes, but they don''t usually pass through the hill. Mogotes have a rounded or pointed hard cap, generally 5 to 10 m thick. Reprecipitated limestone on slopes tends to form nearly vertical slopes. Since the rate of this process is dependent on climatic factors which are not uniform around the hill, the mogote tends to become asymmetric, with a steep slope on one side and a gentler slope on the other (Lugo et al. 2001). The group includes a diversity of vegetation types resulting from ecological gradients due to different exposures to precipitation, wind and substrates, with deep fertile soils in valleys and shallow, rocky, and infertile soils on tops of mogotes, and slopes exhibiting intermediate edaphic conditions (Aukema et al. 2007). Karst mogotes also occur at Los Haitises in the Dominican Republic (Huggins et al. 2007).
Geographic Range: This group occurs in the northern and northwestern part of Puerto Rico on extensive karst, as well as in Cuba, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic (on Hispaniola).
Nations: CU,DO,HT?,JM,PR
States/Provinces: No Data Available
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.860820
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.1 Tropical Dry Forest & Woodland Formation | F003 | 1.A.1 |
| Division | 1.A.1.Ea Caribbean-Mesoamerican Dry Forest & Woodland Division | D099 | 1.A.1.Ea |
| Macrogroup | 1.A.1.Ea.3 Caribbean Dry Limestone Forest Macrogroup | M294 | 1.A.1.Ea.3 |
| Group | 1.A.1.Ea.3.b West Caribbean Karstic Forest Group | G477 | 1.A.1.Ea.3.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Cuban Dry Forests on limestone substrate (Huggins et al. 2007)
? Dry evergreen forest, Xerophytic semi-deciduous forest: Bombacopsis cubensis-Catalpa punctata forests, Coccoloba diversifolia-Bursera simaruba forests and Zanthoxylum elephantiasis-Bursera simaruba forests (Borhidi 1991)
> Hispaniola Dry Forests on limestone substrate (Huggins et al. 2007)
> Jamaican Dry Forests on limestone substrate (Huggins et al. 2007)
> Lesser Antillean Dry Forests on limestone substrate (Huggins et al. 2007)
> Mogote side plant communities (Aukema et al. 2007)
> Mogote top plant communities (Aukema et al. 2007)
> Puerto Rican Dry Forests on limestone substrate (Huggins et al. 2007)
? Puerto Rico land cover type 23, Mature secondary moist limestone evergreen and semideciduous forest (Gould et al. 2008) ["in the haystack hills or ''mogotes'' of the northern karst region of Puerto Rico, drier on ridges and slopes, more mesic on lower slopes and valley bottoms."]
> Puerto Rico land cover type 4, Mature secondary lowland dry limestone evergreen forest (Gould et al. 2008) [southwest part of Puerto Rico, sinkholes on Mona Island.]
> Puerto Rico land cover type 5, Mature secondary lowland dry limestone semideciduous forest (Gould et al. 2008) [southwest part of Puerto Rico, limestone plateau on Mona Island.]
? Puerto Rico land cover type 6, Young secondary lowland dry limestone semideciduous forest (Gould et al. 2008) [mid and upper slopes of limestone hills, southwest part of Puerto Rico, often on abandoned agricultural land.]
? Puerto Rico land cover type 7, Lowland dry limestone woodland and shrubland (Gould et al. 2008) [southwest part of Puerto Rico, Caja de Muertos, Mona Island, often on abandoned agricultural land or semi-active pastures.]
< Seasonal-evergreen Forest Zone (Dansereau 1966)
? Dry evergreen forest, Xerophytic semi-deciduous forest: Bombacopsis cubensis-Catalpa punctata forests, Coccoloba diversifolia-Bursera simaruba forests and Zanthoxylum elephantiasis-Bursera simaruba forests (Borhidi 1991)
> Hispaniola Dry Forests on limestone substrate (Huggins et al. 2007)
> Jamaican Dry Forests on limestone substrate (Huggins et al. 2007)
> Lesser Antillean Dry Forests on limestone substrate (Huggins et al. 2007)
> Mogote side plant communities (Aukema et al. 2007)
> Mogote top plant communities (Aukema et al. 2007)
> Puerto Rican Dry Forests on limestone substrate (Huggins et al. 2007)
? Puerto Rico land cover type 23, Mature secondary moist limestone evergreen and semideciduous forest (Gould et al. 2008) ["in the haystack hills or ''mogotes'' of the northern karst region of Puerto Rico, drier on ridges and slopes, more mesic on lower slopes and valley bottoms."]
> Puerto Rico land cover type 4, Mature secondary lowland dry limestone evergreen forest (Gould et al. 2008) [southwest part of Puerto Rico, sinkholes on Mona Island.]
> Puerto Rico land cover type 5, Mature secondary lowland dry limestone semideciduous forest (Gould et al. 2008) [southwest part of Puerto Rico, limestone plateau on Mona Island.]
? Puerto Rico land cover type 6, Young secondary lowland dry limestone semideciduous forest (Gould et al. 2008) [mid and upper slopes of limestone hills, southwest part of Puerto Rico, often on abandoned agricultural land.]
? Puerto Rico land cover type 7, Lowland dry limestone woodland and shrubland (Gould et al. 2008) [southwest part of Puerto Rico, Caja de Muertos, Mona Island, often on abandoned agricultural land or semi-active pastures.]
< Seasonal-evergreen Forest Zone (Dansereau 1966)
- Aukema, J. A., T. A. Carlo, and J. A. Collazo. 2007. Landscape assessment of tree communities in the northern karst region of Puerto Rico. Plant Ecology 189:101-115.
- 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.
- Chinea, J. D. 1980. The forest vegetation of the limestone hills of northern Puerto Rico. M.S. thesis, Cornell University, NY. 70 pp.
- 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]
- Figueroa Colon, J. 1996. Geoclimatic regions of Puerto Rico (map). USGS Water Resources Division. San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- 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]
- Pool, D. J., and G. Morris. 1979. Land use in the mogotes. Pages 124-132 in: Memorias del tercer simposio de los recursos naturales. Departamento de Recursos Naturales, San Juan, PR.