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G478 East Caribbean Karstic Forest Group
Type Concept Sentence: Dry forests on outcrops of limestone in submontane or montane rainforest zones, composed of drought-tolerant deciduous trees with open canopy layers (6-8 m tall), shrub layer is very dense (2-3 m tall), and rocks and trunks are covered by mosses and epiphytes.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: East Caribbean Karstic Forest Group
Colloquial Name: East Caribbean Karstic Forest
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group occurs as small patches in submontane or montane rainforest zones, below 600 m elevation in Puerto Rico and up to 1100 m in higher mountains with karst outcrops. It is composed of drought-tolerant deciduous trees with open canopy layers, 6-8 m tall. The shrub layer is 2-3 m high and very dense. Rocks and trunks are covered by mosses and epiphytes. The following list of species is diagnostic for this group: Agave spp., Bernardia dichotoma, Citharexylum matheanum, Coccothrinax trinitensis, Erythroxylum clarense, Fadyenia hookeri, Karwinskia potrerilloana, Mahonia tenuifolia, Ocotea floribunda, Psychotria martii, Savia sessiliflora, Tabebuia bibracteolata, Tabebuia sauvallei, Terminalia neglecta, Thouinia clarensis, Zanthoxylum cubense, and Cactaceae. In Puerto Rico, the following species are typical: Bucida buceras, Bursera simaruba, Coccoloba diversifolia, and Zanthoxylum martinicense. In Jamaica common species are Cedrela odorata, Cinnamomum montanum, Coccoloba swartzii, Guapira fragrans, Nectandra patens, Pisonia subcordata, and Sideroxylon portoricense.
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: The vegetation is composed of drought-tolerant deciduous trees with open canopy layers, 6-8 m tall. The shrub layer is 2-3 m high and very dense. Rocks and trunks are covered by mosses and epiphytes.
Floristics: The following list of species is diagnostic for this group: Agave spp., Bernardia dichotoma, Citharexylum matheanum, Coccothrinax trinitensis, Erythroxylum clarense, Fadyenia hookeri (= Garrya fadyenii), Karwinskia potrerilloana, Mahonia tenuifolia (= Berberis tenuifolia), Ocotea floribunda, Psychotria martii, Savia sessiliflora, Tabebuia bibracteolata, Tabebuia sauvallei, Terminalia neglecta, Thouinia clarensis, Zanthoxylum cubense, and Cactaceae. In Puerto Rico, the following species are typical: Bucida buceras, Bursera simaruba, Coccoloba diversifolia, and Zanthoxylum martinicense. Other characteristic species include Aiphanes minima (= Aiphanes acanthophylla), Coccothrinax barbadensis (= Coccothrinax alta), Eugenia confusa, Eugenia spp., Gaussia attenuata, Guettarda scabra, Nectandra coriacea (= Ocotea coriacea), Rondeletia inermis, Tetrazygia elaeagnoides, Thouinia striata, and Thrinax morrisii. In Jamaica (in less humid areas) common species are Cedrela odorata, Cinnamomum montanum, Coccoloba swartzii, Guapira fragrans, Nectandra patens, Pisonia subcordata, and Sideroxylon portoricense (= Bumelia nigra) (Huggins et al. 2007).
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.
Environmental Description: Climate: This group occurs as small patches in submontane or montane rainforest zones, below 600 m elevation in Puerto Rico and up to 1100 m in higher mountains with karst outcrops. Soil/substrate/hydrology: Occurs on carbonate soils and limestone outcrops in submontane or montane rainforest zones, including on higher mountains.
Geographic Range: This group occurs on islands of the Greater Antilles, in submontane or montane rainforest zones.
Nations: CU,DO?,JM,PR
States/Provinces: No Data Available
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.860827
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.a East Caribbean Karstic Forest Group | G478 | 1.A.1.Ea.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Hill Scrub Zone (Dansereau 1966) [This is related to the "Spurs (subxerophytia)" subtype of the Hill Scrub Zone.]
> Jamaican Dry Forests on limestone substrate (Huggins et al. 2007)
> Jamaican Dry Forests on limestone substrate (Huggins et al. 2007)
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