Print Report
G486 Batis maritima Caribbean Salt Flat & Pond Group
Type Concept Sentence: Dwarf evergreen shrubs with succulent leaves and patches of graminoid herbaceous plants are typical of this Caribbean coastal vegetation, which is found in semipermanently flooded coastal ponds, or tidally flooded salt flats, as well as sand and mudflats behind barrier beaches and surrounding mangroves.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Turtleweed Caribbean Salt Flat & Pond Group
Colloquial Name: Caribbean Salt Flat & Pond
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group is found in semipermanently flooded coastal ponds, or tidally flooded salt flats, as well as sand and mudflats behind barrier beaches and surrounding mangroves. The following list of species is diagnostic for this group: Amaranthus crassipes, Annona glabra, Atriplex cristata, Bacopa monnieri, Batis maritima, Blutaparon vermiculare, Heliotropium curassavicum, Heterostachys ritteriana, Sesbania sericea, Sesuvium portulacastrum, and Sporobolus virginicus.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Occurs only in coastal areas near the high tide line. Dwarf evergreen shrubs with succulent leaves and patches of graminoid herbaceous plants are typical.
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: Dwarf evergreen shrubs with succulent leaves and patches of graminoid herbaceous plants are typical. Vegetation may have sparse or barren patches, which may be hypersaline flats subject to evaporation and salt concentration.
Floristics: The following list of species is diagnostic for this group: Amaranthus crassipes, Annona glabra, Atriplex cristata (= Atriplex pentandra), Bacopa monnieri, Batis maritima, Blutaparon vermiculare (= Philoxerus vermicularis), Heliotropium curassavicum, Heterostachys ritteriana, Sesbania sericea, Sesuvium portulacastrum, and Sporobolus virginicus.
Dynamics: Short-term seasonal droughts, very high rainfall from hurricanes, storm tides and king tides are part of the dynamics which contribute to hypersaline conditions (from evaporation) and other stresses on the vegetation, limiting the species which can survive on these sites. The main natural factors that are responsible for the vegetation composition and processes in the estuarine and coastal wetland habitats where these marshes develop are freshwater flow, seasonal freshwater pulsing, estuarine salinity, tidal flushing, coastal geomorphology, and depositional area for sediment and nutrient input. Adams (1990) states that there may be a dynamic relationship between mangroves and salt marsh; as the salt marsh advances seaward, so the upper part of the marsh is invaded and replaced by mangrove.
Environmental Description: Climate: The climate is seasonal and subtropical. Short-term seasonal droughts, very high rainfall from hurricanes, storm tides and king tides are part of the dynamics which contribute to hypersaline conditions (from evaporation) and other stresses on the vegetation, limiting the species which can survive on these sites.
Soil/substrate/hydrology: Where hypersaline conditions develop in the upper intertidal zone, extensive salt flats may occur above the level of mangrove (Adams 1990). West (1977) states that extensive salt marshes can occur as (1) a pioneer community on the ocean side of mangroves, (2) as a zone on the inner edge or within a mangrove stand, or (3) as a secondary or disturbance type on disturbed or degraded mangrove stands. These disturbed types may be dominated by Spartina alterniflora or the fern Acrostichum aureum. Salt marshes and pannes are regularly to irregularly flooded by shallow polyhaline waters as a result of lunar, wind and storm tides. Salt marsh soils range from deep mucks with high clay and organic content in the deeper portions to silts and fine sands in higher areas. The organic soils have a high salinity, neutral reaction, and high sulfur content (FNAI 2010a).
Soil/substrate/hydrology: Where hypersaline conditions develop in the upper intertidal zone, extensive salt flats may occur above the level of mangrove (Adams 1990). West (1977) states that extensive salt marshes can occur as (1) a pioneer community on the ocean side of mangroves, (2) as a zone on the inner edge or within a mangrove stand, or (3) as a secondary or disturbance type on disturbed or degraded mangrove stands. These disturbed types may be dominated by Spartina alterniflora or the fern Acrostichum aureum. Salt marshes and pannes are regularly to irregularly flooded by shallow polyhaline waters as a result of lunar, wind and storm tides. Salt marsh soils range from deep mucks with high clay and organic content in the deeper portions to silts and fine sands in higher areas. The organic soils have a high salinity, neutral reaction, and high sulfur content (FNAI 2010a).
Geographic Range: This group is found near the high tide line in coastal areas of the Caribbean.
Nations: BS,CU,MQ,PR,US,VE,VI,XC
States/Provinces: FL
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.860826
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.Ue Tropical Atlantic Coastal Salt Marsh Division | D037 | 2.C.5.Ue |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.5.Ue.1 Smooth Cordgrass - Turtleweed - Shoreline Sea-purslane Salt Marsh Macrogroup | M735 | 2.C.5.Ue.1 |
| Group | 2.C.5.Ue.1.a Turtleweed Caribbean Salt Flat & Pond Group | G486 | 2.C.5.Ue.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > (ESU 4) Graminoid Supratidal Scrub (Ross et al. 1992)
> (ESU 5) Succulent Supratidal Scrub (Ross et al. 1992)
< Beach-grass Sward -- 19.6 (Dansereau 1966)
< Glasswort Mat -- 9.6 (Dansereau 1966)
= Keys Tidal Rock Barren (FNAI 2010a)
= Puerto Rico land cover type 61, Salt and mudflats (Gould et al. 2008) [Typically <20% vegetation cover, often periodically flooded. Salt flats in low-lying coastal areas seasonally flooded with brackish water, part of a mangrove habitat complex when associated with mangrove trees.]
< Salt-fern Prairie -- 12.5 (Dansereau 1966)
< Saltwort Scrub - 11.4 (Dansereau 1966)
< Sea-purslane Mat -- 10.6 (Dansereau 1966)
= Tidally flooded evergreen dwarf-shrubland formation (Areces-Mallea et al. 1999)
> (ESU 5) Succulent Supratidal Scrub (Ross et al. 1992)
< Beach-grass Sward -- 19.6 (Dansereau 1966)
< Glasswort Mat -- 9.6 (Dansereau 1966)
= Keys Tidal Rock Barren (FNAI 2010a)
= Puerto Rico land cover type 61, Salt and mudflats (Gould et al. 2008) [Typically <20% vegetation cover, often periodically flooded. Salt flats in low-lying coastal areas seasonally flooded with brackish water, part of a mangrove habitat complex when associated with mangrove trees.]
< Salt-fern Prairie -- 12.5 (Dansereau 1966)
< Saltwort Scrub - 11.4 (Dansereau 1966)
< Sea-purslane Mat -- 10.6 (Dansereau 1966)
= Tidally flooded evergreen dwarf-shrubland formation (Areces-Mallea et al. 1999)
- Adam, P. 1990. Saltmarsh Ecology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 461 pp.
- 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.
- 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.
- FNAI [Florida Natural Areas Inventory]. 2010a. Guide to the natural communities of Florida: 2010 edition. Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee, FL. 228 pp. [https://fnai.org/naturalcommguide.cfm]
- 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]
- 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.
- Helmer, E. H., O. Ramos, T. del M. López, M. Quiñones, and W. Diaz. 2002. Mapping the forest type and land cover of Puerto Rico: A component of the Caribbean biodiversity hotspot. Caribbean Journal of Science 38:165-183.
- Huber, O. y C. Alarcón. 1988. Mapa de la Vegetacion de Venezuela. 1:2000000. Min. del Ambiente y de los RR NN Renovables, The Nature Conservancy, Caracas, Venezuela.
- International Institute of Tropical Forestry. No date. Maps of vegetation and land cover in Puerto Rico. [in press]
- 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.
- Ross, M. S., J. J. O''Brien, and L. J. Flynn. 1992. Ecological site classification of Florida Keys terrestrial habitats. Biotropica 24:488-502.
- TNC [The Nature Conservancy]. 2000. Maps of vegetation and land cover in Jamaica. Unpublished preliminary map with field verification. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA.
- West, R. C. 1977. Tidal salt-marsh and mangal formations of Middle and South America. Pages 193-213 in: V. J. Chapmann, editor. Ecosystems of the world. 1. Wet coastal ecosystems. Elsevier, Amsterdam.