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M514 Caribbean Ruderal Dry Forest Macrogroup
Type Concept Sentence: This Caribbean ruderal forest vegetation is found in the lowlands and low hills that are characterized by a dry season along south Florida and the Antilles. Forests composition includes purely introduced species or combinations of native and introduced species with no apparent recent historical natural analog.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Caribbean Ruderal Dry Forest Macrogroup
Colloquial Name: Caribbean Ruderal Dry Forest
Hierarchy Level: Macrogroup
Type Concept: This macrogroup is formed by assemblages of purely introduced species or combinations of native and introduced species with no apparent recent historical natural analogs. These systems are often composed of invasive species, whether exotic or native, that have expanded in extent and abundance due to human disturbances, whether from abandonment of sites with cultural vegetation, or from extensive alteration and degradation of Caribbean natural vegetation. Caribbean ruderal dry forests dominated by naturalized species include Vachellia farnesiana, Leucaena leucocephala, Melicoccus bijugatus, Parkinsonia aculeata, Prosopis juliflora, and Tamarindus indica. Some of the most widespread and damaging invasive trees and shrubs in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are Albizia lebbeck, Leucaena leucocephala, Pinus caribaea, Spathodea campanulata, Syzygium jambos, Tabebuia rosea, and Terminalia catappa. The contribution of introduced species in these areas can amount to >50% of the biomass. Introduced plants are most likely to become established in disturbed habitats rather than in pristine ones. Areas originally covered by dry forest tend to be very susceptible to the establishment of introduced species, particularly on alluvial, volcanic and sedimentary substrates, but less so on more specialized substrates such as limestone and ultramafic. In the case of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, factors such as land-use change, high human population densities and high urban development have induced some of the major alterations in the landscape creating a vast number of open and degraded areas that were readily occupied by alien species.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This ruderal forest contains at least 80% or more exotic species [see Floristics], or potentially a combination of these exotic species with selected "weedy" native trees.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Chinea and Helmer (2003) and Brandeis et al. (2008) found that the various introduced species of these ruderal forests occurred in specific climatic zones. That is, Leucaena leucocephala-dominated forests/stands are only found in dry to drier-moist; Spathodea campanulata-dominated are only found in moist to moist-wet environments, and so on. Field observations by E. Helmer (pers. comm. 2014) supports this view. Geology, too, definitely plays a role. In addition, many of these forests are basically pioneer, or early-seral, forests and native tree species gradually colonize. So, another way to view these ruderal types is that they are alliance-level units within native groups and macrogroups (E. Helmer pers. comm. 2014).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The contribution of introduced species can amount to >50% of the biomass.
Floristics: This macrogroup is formed by assemblages of purely introduced species or combinations of native and introduced species with no apparent recent historical natural analogs. These systems are often composed of invasive species, whether exotic or native, that have expanded in extent and abundance due to human disturbances, whether from abandonment of sites with cultural vegetation, or from extensive alteration and degradation of Caribbean natural vegetation. Naturalized species that may be common or may dominate Caribbean ruderal dry forests include Vachellia farnesiana (= Acacia farnesiana), Leucaena leucocephala, Melicoccus bijugatus, Parkinsonia aculeata, Prosopis juliflora, and Tamarindus indica. Some of the most widespread exotic trees and shrubs in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are Albizia lebbeck, Leucaena leucocephala, Pinus caribaea, Schinus molle, Spathodea campanulata, Syzygium jambos, Tabebuia rosea, and Terminalia catappa (Chinea and Helmer 2003, Brandeis et al. 2008).
Dynamics: Once established, these exotic-dominated tropical forests may persist for many years. It is not clear whether they will ever succeed back to a more native forest composition. Introduced species with the potential to become invasive are usually species with wide distributional ranges in their area of origin. This correlation may respond to the fact that species with large distributional ranges may have tolerance to a wide range of environmental conditions, use a broad spectrum of resources and resist a large number of potential enemies (Pysek and Richardson 2006, as cited in Rojas-Sandoval and Acevedo-Rodriguez 2014).
Environmental Description: Climate: Like their natural counterpart, Caribbean ruderal dry forests occurring on the mainland in Florida and the Upper Keys are periodically exposed to short-term frost and their flora is composed of a subset of species of native tropical trees that can withstand rare frost events. Mean annual temperatures in the Caribbean dry forest region range from 23°C (74°F) in the north to 26°C (77°F) in the Lower Keys. Precipitation primarily occurs from June to October and ranges from 1650 mm along the Atlantic coast decreasing southward to less than 1000 mm in the Lower Keys (Gillespie 2006). Precipitation in the distributional 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. 2009), with two dry seasons.
Soil/Substrate: Limestone is the dominant substrate in Caribbean dry forests of Florida and the Bahamas, with skeletal organic soils with minor mineral components, rarely exceeding 20 cm in depth (Snyder et al. 1990, as cited in Gillespie 2006). The coastal maritime hammocks are found on stabilized, old, coastal dunes, often with substantial shell components. 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. 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).
Introduced plants are most likely to become established in disturbed habitats, including areas formerly used for large-scale commercial agriculture, such as sugar cane, and then abandoned (Sher and Hyatt 1999, Davis et al. 2000, as cited in Rojas-Sandoval and Acevedo-Rodriguez 2014). In the case of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, factors such as land-use change, high human population densities and high urban development have led to some of the major alterations in the landscape, creating a vast number of open and degraded areas that were readily occupied by alien species (Chinea and Helmer 2003, Brandeis et al. 2008).
Soil/Substrate: Limestone is the dominant substrate in Caribbean dry forests of Florida and the Bahamas, with skeletal organic soils with minor mineral components, rarely exceeding 20 cm in depth (Snyder et al. 1990, as cited in Gillespie 2006). The coastal maritime hammocks are found on stabilized, old, coastal dunes, often with substantial shell components. 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. 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).
Introduced plants are most likely to become established in disturbed habitats, including areas formerly used for large-scale commercial agriculture, such as sugar cane, and then abandoned (Sher and Hyatt 1999, Davis et al. 2000, as cited in Rojas-Sandoval and Acevedo-Rodriguez 2014). In the case of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, factors such as land-use change, high human population densities and high urban development have led to some of the major alterations in the landscape, creating a vast number of open and degraded areas that were readily occupied by alien species (Chinea and Helmer 2003, Brandeis et al. 2008).
Geographic Range: This macrogroup occurs in south Florida, the Florida Keys, the Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles, and other Caribbean islands of the Bahamas and Virgin Islands archipelagos.
Nations: BS,CU,DO,JM,KN,PR,US,VI,XC,XD
States/Provinces: FL
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.881415
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA
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.90 Caribbean Ruderal Dry Forest Macrogroup | M514 | 1.A.1.Ea.90 |
| Group | 1.A.1.Ea.90.a Caribbean Ruderal Dry Forest Group | G683 | 1.A.1.Ea.90.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Brandeis, T. J., E. H. Helmer, H. Marcano-Vega, and A. E. Lugo. 2009b. Climate shapes the novel plant communities that form after deforestation in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Forest Ecology and Management 258(7):1704-1718.
- Brandeis, T., M. Delaney, L. Royer, and B. Parresol. 2009a. Allometric equations for predicting Puerto Rican dry forest biomass and volume. Pages 197-202 in: R. E. McRoberts, G. A. Reams, P. C. Van Deusen, and W. H. McWilliams, editors. Proceedings of the eighth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium; 2006 October 16-19; Monterey, CA. General Technical Report WO-79. USDA Forest Service, Washington, DC. [http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/17281]
- Chinea, J. D., and E. H. Helmer. 2009. Diversity and composition of tropical secondary forests recovering from large-scale clearing: Results from the 1990 inventory in Puerto Rico. Forest Ecology and Management 180(1):227-240.
- 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]
- Gillespie, T. W. 2006. Diversity, biogeography and conservation of woody plants in tropical dry forest of south Florida. Pages 383-394 in: R. T. Pennington, G. P. Lewis, and J. A. Ratter, editors. Neotropical Savannas and Seasonally Dry Forest. Systematics Association special volume (69). CRC Press.
- Helmer, E. H., T. J. Brandeis, A. E. Lugo, and T. Kennaway. 2008. Factors influencing spatial pattern in tropical forest clearance and stand age: Implications for carbon storage and species diversity. Journal of Geophysical Research 113:G02S04. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2007JG000568]
- Helmer, Eileen H. Personal communication. International Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest Service, Río Piedras, PR.
- Lugo, A. E., E. Medina, J. C. Trejo-Torres, and E. Helmer. 2006. Botanical and ecological basis for the resilience of Antillean Dry Forests. Pages 359-381 in: R. T. Pennington, G. P. Lewis, and J. A. Ratter, editors. Neotropical savannas and seasonally dry forests: Plant diversity, biogeography and conservation. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
- Martinuzzi, S., A. E. Lugo, T. H. Brandeis, and E. H. Helmer. 2013. Case study: Geographic distribution and level of novelty of Puerto Rican Forests. Pages 81-87 in: R. J. Hobbs, E. S. Higgs and C. M. Hall, editors. Novel Ecosystems: Intervening in the New Ecological World Order. John Wiley & Sons. Ltd.
- Rojas-Sandoval, J. and P. Acevedo-Rodriguez. 2015. Naturalization and invasion of alien plants in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Biological Invasions 17:149-163.