Print Report
F056 Tropical Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Formation
Type Concept Sentence: Tropical Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation occurs in shallow to deep freshwater habitats where emergent vegetation is <10% cover, and submerged or floating-aquatic plants have >1% cover, occurring around the globe within the tropical regions (roughly, between 30°N and 30°S in latitude).
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Tropical Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Formation
Colloquial Name: Tropical Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation
Hierarchy Level: Formation
Type Concept: This type occurs in tropical shallow to deep water habitats where emergent vegetation is <10% cover, and submerged or floating-aquatic plants have >1% cover. The upper limits of salinity are set at approximately 0.5 ppt, above which it is typically considered saltwater. Submerged or floating-aquatic plants usually dominate the vegetation. Open surface water up to 2 m deep is present for all or most of the year. Water levels are seasonally stable, permanently flooded, or intermittently exposed during droughts, low flows or intertidal periods.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Tropical Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation occurs in shallow to deep water habitats where emergent vegetation is <10% cover, and submerged or floating aquatic plants have >1% cover, with the upper limits of salinity set at 0.5 ppt, above which it is considered saltwater. Water levels are seasonally stable, permanently flooded, or intermittently exposed during droughts, low flows or intertidal periods. Tropical Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation occurs around the globe within the tropical regions (roughly, between 30°N and 30°S in latitude). Vegetation is more typically present throughout the year, or fluctuates in response to factors other than temperature.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The concept of this formation extends to deeper water habitats (i.e., deeper than 2 m in lakes) and to riverine bottoms, but in practice, freshwater aquatic classifications may supersede this one from a user standpoint [see Formation Class and Subclass Classification Comments].
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Submerged or floating-aquatic plants usually dominate the vegetation, with <10% of the surface water area covered by standing emergent or woody plants. Above-sediment or floating biomass remains relatively constant in abundance throughout the year, or fluctuates in response to factors other than temperature change (e.g., water levels or suspended sediment). Open surface water up to 2 m or more deep is present for all or most of the year (National Wetlands Working Group 1997).
Floristics: No Data Available
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Tropical Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation is subject to aquatic processes typical of upper limnetic or infralittoral lake zones, such as nutrient and gaseous exchange, oxidation and decomposition. Ionic composition of waters varies widely. The upper limits of salinity for Tropical Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation are set at 0.5 ppt. Dissolved minerals, acid-base balances, and nutrient levels are influenced by hydrology, underlying geological materials, nutrient fluxes and plant communities. Tropical Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation usually is situated on substrates of limnic organic or mineral material, or marl in stable-water regimes. Little sediment accumulation occurs in high-energy shallow waters such as tidal regimes, rivers or large lakes. In semi-arid regions, shallow waters dry up intermittently, often leaving evaporite alkaline salt deposits. Except in highly saline or acidic waters, these deposits provide a substrate for rooted submerged and floating macrophytes, algae and aquatic mosses (National Wetlands Working Group 1997).
Tropical Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation is found in shallow water that usually has standing or flowing water <2 m deep in mid-summer. Water levels are seasonally stable, permanently flooded, or intermittently exposed during droughts or low flows. Shallow-water vegetation may also occupy bays and margins of profundal zones of lakes (National Wetlands Working Group 1997).
Tropical Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation occurs in ponds, pools, shallow lakes, oxbows, sloughs, natural and artificial impoundments, canals, or stream and river channels, including freshwater portions of estuaries. Boundaries are determined by water-eroded shorelines, beaches or landward margins of mudflats, recent limnic deposits, floating mats, emergents or hydrophytic trees or shrubs. Bordering mats of rooted emergent vegetation, including inundated trees, may occupy up to 10% of the shallow water area. Shallow waters are found in all hydrogeomorphic settings, but are usually associated with lacustrine, fluvial, stream, river and permafrost systems (National Wetlands Working Group 1997).
Tropical Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation is found in shallow water that usually has standing or flowing water <2 m deep in mid-summer. Water levels are seasonally stable, permanently flooded, or intermittently exposed during droughts or low flows. Shallow-water vegetation may also occupy bays and margins of profundal zones of lakes (National Wetlands Working Group 1997).
Tropical Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation occurs in ponds, pools, shallow lakes, oxbows, sloughs, natural and artificial impoundments, canals, or stream and river channels, including freshwater portions of estuaries. Boundaries are determined by water-eroded shorelines, beaches or landward margins of mudflats, recent limnic deposits, floating mats, emergents or hydrophytic trees or shrubs. Bordering mats of rooted emergent vegetation, including inundated trees, may occupy up to 10% of the shallow water area. Shallow waters are found in all hydrogeomorphic settings, but are usually associated with lacustrine, fluvial, stream, river and permafrost systems (National Wetlands Working Group 1997).
Geographic Range: Tropical Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation occurs in shallow to deep freshwater habitats around the globe within the tropical regions (roughly, between 30°N and 30°S latitude).
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: No Data Available
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.877231
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 5 Aquatic Vegetation Class | C05 | 5 |
| Subclass | 5.B Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Subclass | S13 | 5.B |
| Formation | 5.B.1 Tropical Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Formation | F056 | 5.B.1 |
| Division | 5.B.1.Ed Neotropical Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Division | D097 | 5.B.1.Ed |
| Division | 5.B.1.Ob Polynesian-Eastern Melanesian Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Division | D084 | 5.B.1.Ob |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Freshwater Marshes (Mitsch and Gosselink 2000) [Both tropical and temperate marshes are treated together, and inland saline marshes are included here too, as are emergent and aquatic vegetation.]
>< Shallow Water Wetland Class (National Wetlands Working Group 1997) [The authors include both saltwater aquatic and freshwater aquatic vegetation in their concept and restrict the type to wetland aquatic vegetation, whereas the concept used here could extend to deeper water habitats.]
>< Tidal Freshwater Marshes (Mitsch and Gosselink 2000) [Both tropical and temperate marshes are treated together, as are emergent and aquatic vegetation.]
>< Shallow Water Wetland Class (National Wetlands Working Group 1997) [The authors include both saltwater aquatic and freshwater aquatic vegetation in their concept and restrict the type to wetland aquatic vegetation, whereas the concept used here could extend to deeper water habitats.]
>< Tidal Freshwater Marshes (Mitsch and Gosselink 2000) [Both tropical and temperate marshes are treated together, as are emergent and aquatic vegetation.]
- Faber-Langendoen, D., T. Keeler-Wolf, D. Meidinger, C. Josse, A. Weakley, D. Tart, G. Navarro, B. Hoagland, S. Ponomarenko, J.-P. Saucier, G. Fults, and E. Helmer. 2015c. Classification and description of world formation types. General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-000. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, CO.
- Mitsch, W. J., and J. G. Gosselink. 2000. Wetlands. Third edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York. 920 pp.
- National Wetlands Working Group. 1997. Wetlands of Canada. C. D. A. Rubec, editor. Ecological Land Classification Series No. 24. Environment Canada, Ottawa, and Polyscience Publications, Inc., Montreal. 452 pp.