Print Report
G476 Caribbean Coastal Dry Evergreen Forest Group
Type Concept Sentence: These Caribbean dry forests are found in coastal areas, lowlands and low hills (about 300 m elevation), which are characterized by a dry season, and occur on a variety of substrates, such as sand, rocky areas and rock outcrops which contribute to seasonal plant moisture stress, as well as on sites with better soils.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Caribbean Coastal Dry Evergreen Forest Group
Colloquial Name: Caribbean Coastal Dry Evergreen Forest
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: These Caribbean dry forests are found in coastal areas, lowlands and low hills (about 300 m elevation). Forests are characterized by a dry season, and occur on a variety of substrates, such as sand, rocky areas and rock outcrops which contribute to seasonal plant moisture stress, as well as on sites with better soils, but which are seasonally dry. Coastal forests are evergreen, or mostly evergreen, with thick, sclerophyllous, small leaves and only a third of the trees deciduous or semi-deciduous. They have relative low floristic diversity and a tendency to have high species dominance. The canopy is somewhat open, between 6-10 m in height or taller in the case of occurrences in Cuba and sites in St. John where they have two canopy layers, with the upper layer reaching 12-15 m and occasional emergents up to 20 m tall. The density of stems tends to be very high. Inland forests are composed of two canopy layers with the upper canopy 18-25 m tall and about 75% deciduous species. The prevailing conditions determine if this forest type is deciduous or semi-deciduous. In both coastal and inland dry forests, the woody understory is mostly evergreen. The herb layer is poorly developed or completely lacking. Species composition varies depending on past uses, substrate, and local climate. In sandy or rocky areas with nutrient-poor soils, especially in coastal areas, forests are lower in height and include a spiny sclerophyllous shrub layer. The trees have a high proportion of root biomass, which allows these forests to be resilient to hurricane damage. In coastal dry forests, the following list of species is diagnostic for this group: Bursera simaruba, Coccoloba diversifolia, Erythroxylum areolatum, Eugenia axillaris, Exostema caribaeum, Exothea paniculata, Guettarda krugii, Guaiacum sanctum, Guapira obtusata, Gymnanthes lucida, Metopium toxiferum, Sideroxylon foetidissimum, and Sideroxylon salicifolium. In inland dry forests diagnostic species are Acacia muricata, Allophylus cominia, Amyris balsamifera, Andira inermis, Ateleia cubensis, Brya ebenus, Byrsonima spicata, Capparis spp., Catalpa macrocarpa, Cedrela odorata, Coccoloba spp., Copernicia baileyana, Copernicia sueroana, Copernicia textilis, Cordia laevigata, Diospyros crassinervis, Diospyros halesioides, Eugenia confusa, Ficus citrifolia, Hymenaea courbaril, Manilkara jaimiqui, Manilkara bidentata, Maytenus buxifolia, Myrcia citrifolia, Myrciaria floribunda, Phyllostylon brasiliensis, Picramnia pentandra, Guapira fragrans, Pisonia subcordata, Savia sessiliflora, Swietenia mahagoni, Tabebuia heterophylla, Tabebuia shaferi, Trichilia hirta, Trichilia pallida, and Zanthoxylum martinicense. In Puerto Rico, the following species are typical in inland examples: Bucida buceras, Citharexylum spinosum, Coccoloba diversifolia, Cordia laevigata, Guaiacum officinale, Guazuma ulmifolia, Lonchocarpus domingensis, and Rauvolfia nitida.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This group includes coastal and inland low-elevation seasonal dry forests. The inland forests (CES411.419) tend to have higher stature and density of the stand and predominance of mesophyllous and deciduous trees. The coastal forests (CES411.421) have more sclerophyllous, evergreen foliage, and only a third of the trees are deciduous or semi-deciduous (Wadsworth 1964, cited in Murphy and Lugo 1995). Nevertheless, the composition varies within this group and some species among the top dominant trees are present in both subtypes, for example Guapira fragrans or Tabebuia heterophylla.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These are evergreen, semi-deciduous or in some cases deciduous forests with somewhat open short tree canopy. There is an evergreen understory, mostly with small leaves, including sclerophyllous leaves. Herbaceous plants are very sparse. These trees have a high proportion of root biomass, which allows these forests to be resilient to hurricane damage (Lugo et al. 2006). Coastal forests are evergreen, or mostly evergreen, with thick, sclerophyllous, small leaves and only a third of the trees deciduous or semi-deciduous (Wadsworth 1964, cited in Murphy and Lugo 1995).
Floristics: Coastal examples have the following list of species as diagnostic: Bursera simaruba, Coccoloba diversifolia, Erythroxylum areolatum, Eugenia axillaris, Exostema caribaeum, Exothea paniculata, Guettarda krugii, Guaiacum sanctum, Guapira obtusata, Gymnanthes lucida, Metopium toxiferum, Sideroxylon foetidissimum, and Sideroxylon salicifolium. Common accompanying species are Amyris elemifera, Ateleia gummifera, Bourreria succulenta, Bucida buceras, Caesalpinia spp., Capparis cynophallophora, Capparis flexuosa, Chionanthus ligustrinus (= Linociera ligustrina), Chrysobalanus icaco, Chrysophyllum oliviforme, Coccoloba krugii, Coccothrinax littoralis, Colubrina spp., Erithalis fruticosa, Erythroxylum rotundifolium, Eugenia confusa, Eugenia foetida, Ficus aurea, Guettarda elliptica, Krugiodendron ferreum, Lysiloma latisiliquum (= Lysiloma bahamense), Pictetia aculeata, Pisonia albida, Randia aculeata, Sabal parviflora, Tabernaemontana amblyocarpa, Terminalia neglecta, Thouinia striata var. portoricensis, and Thrinax radiata. The species composition reported for St. John includes as dominants Bourreria succulenta, Coccoloba microstachya, Guapira fragrans (= Pisonia fragrans), Maytenus laevigata, Nectandra coriacea (= Ocotea coriacea), and Tabebuia heterophylla (= Tabebuia pallida). Examples in the lowlands and low hills in sandy or rocky areas with nutrient-poor soils are lower in height and include a spiny sclerophyllous shrub layer. The following list of species is diagnostic in the lowlands and low hills: Acacia muricata, Allophylus cominia, Amyris balsamifera, Andira inermis, Ateleia cubensis, Brya ebenus, Byrsonima spicata, Capparis spp., Catalpa macrocarpa (= Catalpa punctata), Cedrela odorata (= Cedrela mexicana), Coccoloba spp., Copernicia baileyana, Copernicia sueroana, Copernicia textilis, Cordia laevigata, Diospyros crassinervis, Diospyros halesioides, Eugenia confusa, Ficus citrifolia, Hymenaea courbaril, Manilkara jaimiqui, Manilkara bidentata, Maytenus buxifolia, Myrcia citrifolia, Myrciaria floribunda, Phyllostylon brasiliensis, Picramnia pentandra, Guapira fragrans, Pisonia subcordata, Savia sessiliflora, Swietenia mahagoni, Tabebuia heterophylla, Tabebuia shaferi, Trichilia hirta, Trichilia pallida, and Zanthoxylum martinicense. In Puerto Rico, the following species are typical: Bucida buceras, Citharexylum spinosum (= Citharexylum fruticosum), Coccoloba diversifolia, Cordia laevigata, Guaiacum officinale, Guazuma ulmifolia, Lonchocarpus domingensis, and Rauvolfia nitida. The species composition reported for St. John includes as dominants Acacia muricata, Byrsonima spicata, Chionanthus compactus, Faramea occidentalis, Guazuma ulmifolia, Inga laurina, Nectandra coriacea, and Tabebuia heterophylla.
Dynamics: Caribbean coastal dry forests are exposed to harsh environmental conditions that, depending on their intensity, can cause damage or diebacks, such as seasonal water deficit, nutrient stress, strong winds and salt spray, and saltwater storm surge. This has influenced the development of structural and physiological mechanisms to cope, making them very resilient to disturbance. Among the more outstanding ones are a high resistance to wind (short stature), a high proportion of root biomass, high soil carbon and nutrient accumulation below ground, the ability of most tree species to resprout, and high nutrient use efficiency (Lugo et al. 2006). Fire is not part of the natural dynamics of Caribbean coastal dry forests, but hurricanes are, which naturally results in considerable heterogeneity in habitat structure and food availability on small spatial scales. This structuring of coastal dry forest by frequent natural disturbance may favor their resilience to anthropogenic disturbance and fragmentation.
Environmental Description: Climate: Precipitation in the distribution range of this forest in Puerto Rico and over most of the islands of Culebra and Vieques ranges from 600 to 1100 mm per year (Brandeis et al. 2006), with two dry seasons, the longer one from December to April and a shorter one from June to August. Caribbean dry forests are subject to stressful conditions due to low moisture availability, long dry seasons, and decadal cycles of pronounced drought. In addition, hurricanes bring very high winds and intense rainfall. Mean temperatures between 24-27°C are typical. The annual precipitation range is somewhat higher across much of the distribution of this forest type (800-1300 mm) (Murphy and Lugo 1995).
Soil/substrate/hydrology: In the Greater Antilles the distribution of dry forests is indicative of limestone substrates occurring in narrow strips on the northern and southern coastal areas. Rocky limestone soils have low water-holding capacity and nutritional limitations imposed by their calcareous composition. Isolated inland, ultramafic soils associated with limestone also support dry forests. In flat low-lying limestone archipelagos, such as the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Mona and Anegada, dry forests and shrublands dominate. In volcanic, low mountainous islands of the Lesser Antilles, dry forests dominate except for protected sites and ravines where moist forest can grow (Lugo et al. 2006).
Soil/substrate/hydrology: In the Greater Antilles the distribution of dry forests is indicative of limestone substrates occurring in narrow strips on the northern and southern coastal areas. Rocky limestone soils have low water-holding capacity and nutritional limitations imposed by their calcareous composition. Isolated inland, ultramafic soils associated with limestone also support dry forests. In flat low-lying limestone archipelagos, such as the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Mona and Anegada, dry forests and shrublands dominate. In volcanic, low mountainous islands of the Lesser Antilles, dry forests dominate except for protected sites and ravines where moist forest can grow (Lugo et al. 2006).
Geographic Range: This group occurs in coastal and low-elevation Caribbean areas including the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and Lesser Antilles.
Nations: BS,CU,DO,JM,PR,TT,VE,VI,XD
States/Provinces: No Data Available
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.860885
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.2 Gumbo Limbo - Tie-tongue - Stopper species Caribbean Coastal Lowland Dry Forest Macrogroup | M134 | 1.A.1.Ea.2 |
| Group | 1.A.1.Ea.2.a Caribbean Coastal Dry Evergreen Forest Group | G476 | 1.A.1.Ea.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Cuban Dry Forests on volcanic, sedimentary and alluvial substrates (Huggins et al. 2007)
> Hispaniola Dry Forests on volcanic, sedimentary and alluvial substrates (Huggins et al. 2007)
> Lesser Antillean Dry Forests on volcanic, sedimentary and alluvial substrates (Huggins et al. 2007)
> Puerto Rican Dry Forests on volcanic, sedimentary and alluvial substrates (Huggins et al. 2007)
> Puerto Rico land cover type 1, Mature secondary lowland dry alluvial semideciduous forest (Gould et al. 2008) [These remnants are in relatively undisturbed areas, often along riparian corridors, northeast and south coast of Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra and Mona Island.]
> Puerto Rico land cover type 13, Mature secondary lowland dry noncalcareous semideciduous forest (Gould et al. 2008) [Mature dry forest on volcanic substrates, coastal hills in northeast Puerto Rico and in the Sierra Bermeja range in the southwest part of Puerto Rico.]
? Semi-deciduous Forest (Dansereau 1966)
> Hispaniola Dry Forests on volcanic, sedimentary and alluvial substrates (Huggins et al. 2007)
> Lesser Antillean Dry Forests on volcanic, sedimentary and alluvial substrates (Huggins et al. 2007)
> Puerto Rican Dry Forests on volcanic, sedimentary and alluvial substrates (Huggins et al. 2007)
> Puerto Rico land cover type 1, Mature secondary lowland dry alluvial semideciduous forest (Gould et al. 2008) [These remnants are in relatively undisturbed areas, often along riparian corridors, northeast and south coast of Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra and Mona Island.]
> Puerto Rico land cover type 13, Mature secondary lowland dry noncalcareous semideciduous forest (Gould et al. 2008) [Mature dry forest on volcanic substrates, coastal hills in northeast Puerto Rico and in the Sierra Bermeja range in the southwest part of Puerto Rico.]
? Semi-deciduous Forest (Dansereau 1966)
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