Print Report
G431 Polynesian Coastal Salt Marsh Group
Type Concept Sentence: This group includes native species-dominated intertidal salt marshes found in the coastal areas of the main Hawaiian Islands. Vegetation is dominated by indigenous species, including Cyperus spp., Eleocharis spp., Fimbristylis cymosa, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Paspalum vaginatum, Sesuvium portulacastrum, and Vigna marina.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Polynesian Coastal Salt Marsh Group
Colloquial Name: Polynesian Coastal Salt Marsh
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: These herbaceous coastal wetlands are found within poorly drained coastal zones on reef flats and in sandy bays where salt water levels remain low. In Micronesia, common seagrass species include Enhalus acoroides, Halodule uninervis, Thalassia hemprichii, Thalassodendron ciliatum, Cymodocea rotundata, Cymodocea serrulata, Halophila ovalis, and Halophila minor. Halodule and Thalassia, often with Halophila, often forma turf on shallow sand flats.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The concept summary is new and rangewide, but all other descriptive material is for the Hawaiian manifestation of this type and requires revision. We need to determine whether the Hawaiian portion is an alliance within this group or some other configuration. Information is very limited because these marshes were always pretty limited and are universally altered or destroyed throughout their range.
Original comments: This type may be historic in the main Hawaiian Islands except where restored and maintained. Known stands are disturbed or converted to non-native coastal wetlands and dominated by invasive, non-native species such as Atriplex semibaccata, Batis maritima, Pluchea indica, and Urochloa mutica. This group does not include anchialine pools, which are aquatic and have a subterranean connection to the ocean and often have endemic species of shrimps, etc. present. This marsh group shares characteristic species such as salt-tolerant Sesuvium portulacastrum included with ~Hawaiian Scrub & Herb Coastal Strand Group (G421)$$, which is restricted to the coastal spray zone.
Original comments: This type may be historic in the main Hawaiian Islands except where restored and maintained. Known stands are disturbed or converted to non-native coastal wetlands and dominated by invasive, non-native species such as Atriplex semibaccata, Batis maritima, Pluchea indica, and Urochloa mutica. This group does not include anchialine pools, which are aquatic and have a subterranean connection to the ocean and often have endemic species of shrimps, etc. present. This marsh group shares characteristic species such as salt-tolerant Sesuvium portulacastrum included with ~Hawaiian Scrub & Herb Coastal Strand Group (G421)$$, which is restricted to the coastal spray zone.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The indigenous Sesuvium portulacastrum dominates sometimes with non-native species present such as Batis maritima and Pluchea indica in the marsh and with Atriplex semibaccata along margins. The vegetation in windward marshes is generally less than 0.25 m tall and dominated by indigenous plants, including Cyperus spp., Eleocharis spp., Fimbristylis cymosa, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Paspalum vaginatum, Sesuvium portulacastrum, and Vigna marina. Under slightly brackish conditions at mouths of large windward river valleys, it merges into ~Hawaiian Freshwater Marsh Group (G428)$$, where dominance becomes shared with Schoenoplectus spp., Bolboschoenus maritimus, and Cyperus laevigatus.
Dynamics: Batis and Pluchea have and continue to displace native Sesuvium herbland. In addition, mangrove swamps (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and Rhizophora mangle) are displacing this group in fishponds, harbors and canals. Mangroves are considered to be a degraded condition of the tidal salt marsh.
Environmental Description: This coastal salt marsh group is defined by salinity and tidal inundation regime and is influenced by tides daily. Relative salinity is dictated in part by inflows of freshwater streams and groundwater toward coastal areas. Leeward marshes are typically of higher salinity due to less freshwater influence. They occur as small patches at mouths of annual streambeds and in depressions behind beaches and rocky shorelines with a surface connection to the ocean.
Climate: Climate is variable depending on whether the stand occurs on the windward or leeward side of the island. Soil/substrate/hydrology: Salt marshes occur on silt, sand, or coralline substrates, and on the main islands in depressions and on mudflats adjacent to ponds, and lagoons. This group does not include anchialine pools, which only have a subterranean connection to the ocean.
Climate: Climate is variable depending on whether the stand occurs on the windward or leeward side of the island. Soil/substrate/hydrology: Salt marshes occur on silt, sand, or coralline substrates, and on the main islands in depressions and on mudflats adjacent to ponds, and lagoons. This group does not include anchialine pools, which only have a subterranean connection to the ocean.
Geographic Range: This salt marsh group occurred throughout the coastal areas of the main Hawaiian Islands, but is currently rare due to conversion to exotics and may exist only where restored and maintained.
Nations: AS,MP,US?,WS
States/Provinces: HI?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.860836
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.Wf Tropical Indo-Pacific Coastal Salt Marsh Division | D038 | 2.C.5.Wf |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.5.Wf.1 Western Pacific Salt Marsh Macrogroup | M085 | 2.C.5.Wf.1 |
| Group | 2.C.5.Wf.1.b Polynesian Coastal Salt Marsh Group | G431 | 2.C.5.Wf.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Coastal Dry Herbland (Gagne and Cuddihy 1990)
> Coastal Wet Sedgeland (Gagne and Cuddihy 1990)
> Coastal Wet Sedgeland (Gagne and Cuddihy 1990)
- 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]
- Gagne, W. C., and L. W. Cuddihy. 1990. Vegetation. Pages 45-114 in: W. L. Wagner, D. R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer, editors. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii. 2 volumes. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu.
- Mueller-Dombois, D., and F. R. Fosberg. 1998. Vegetation of the tropical Pacific islands. Springer-Verlag, New York. 733 pp.
- Stemmermann, L. 1983. Ecological studies of Hawaiian Metrosideros in a successional context. Pacific Science 37:317-325.
- Wagner, W. L., D. R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Revised edition. Volumes 1 and 2. University of Hawaii Press and Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 1919 pp.