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M700 Sporobolus virginicus - Ipomoea pes-caprae - Suriana maritima Coastal Dune & Beach Vegetation Macrogroup
Type Concept Sentence: This macrogroup encompasses vegetation of the beach, foredune and rock pavement of the shorelines of the Caribbean islands, extreme southern peninsular Florida, the Florida Keys, and south Florida mangrove islands.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Seashore Dropseed - Bayhops - Bay-cedar Coastal Dune & Beach Vegetation Macrogroup
Colloquial Name: Caribbean-Mesoamerican Coastal Dune & Beach
Hierarchy Level: Macrogroup
Type Concept: This macrogroup covers the gradient from the upper beach to landward features found on sand-covered shorelines, including shorelines of coastal lagoons, as well as supra-tidal coastal rock pavement and salt spray cliffs. Sand beach vegetation closest to the intertidal zone - the upper beach, comprise mostly annual nitro-halophytes occupying accumulations of drift material and sands rich in nitrogenous organic matter. In the Caribbean coasts, ephemeral growth of Blutaparon vermiculare, Cakile lanceolata, Cyperus spp., Diodia serrulata, Fimbristylis cymosa, Kyllinga spp., and Lepidium virginicum is characteristic, accompanied by patches of Heliotropium curassavicum and Sesuvium portulacastrum, mostly limited to small depressions. Locally, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Alternanthera maritima, Remirea maritima, and other upper beach and foredune species may invade the pioneer foreshore and lower backshore zone. Perennial vines such as Canavalia rosea and Ipomoea pes-caprae are generally more characteristic of tropical beaches than of temperate ones.
This beach vegetation includes the southernmost of its kind along the mainland Atlantic Coast of North America. Its southerly location distinguishes it from other types, primarily due to the prevalence of the tropical flora it supports. Dunes and foredunes of the tropical portion of the Florida peninsula are distinguished by the presence of Canavalia rosea on the upper beach, and Scaevola plumieri, Suriana maritima, Chamaesyce mesembrianthemifolia, and occasional shrubs of Coccoloba uvifera among Uniola paniculata, a perennial rhizomatous grass, whose stems trap the sand grains blown off the beach, building up the dune by growing upward to keep pace with sand burial. Besides southern Florida, the tropical distribution of this type of grassy sea-oat dunes includes the sandy beaches of the Gulf of Mexico north of the Yucatan Peninsula, Cuba, and the Bahamas.
More stable beach ridges, foredunes and primary dunes of the Antilles and the Caribbean coast of South America are colonized by low, usually leaf-succulent shrubs and subshrubs, many of them of pantropical, tropical American or cosmopolitan distribution. The communities formed are fairly constant throughout the tropics and characteristic dominants include Argusia gnaphalodes, Batis maritima, Borrichia spp., Nolana galapagensis, Scaevola plumieri, Suriana maritima, and Uniola paniculata. Low chenopod shrubs such as Atriplex peruviana, Salicornia "virginica" s.l. (Salicornia "fruticosa" s.l.) are also typically present.
The macrogroup also includes shrub thickets, known in Florida as coastal berms, found on long narrow storm-deposited ridges of loose sediment formed by a mixture of coarse shell fragments, pieces of coralline algae, and other coastal debris. These ridges parallel the shore and may be found in low-energy coastlines in south Florida and the Florida Keys, on the seaward edge or landward edge of the mangroves or further inland depending on the height of the storm surge that formed them. Similar shoreline thicket communities occur in several of the Caribbean islands on locations with mangroves and similar storm dynamics. These thickets are dominated by shrubs and herbs accompanied by small trees, all of tropical floristic affinity. Rock pavement and coastal cliffs are dominated by Rachicallis americana and Borrichia arborescens that occur in supra-tidal pavement areas.
This beach vegetation includes the southernmost of its kind along the mainland Atlantic Coast of North America. Its southerly location distinguishes it from other types, primarily due to the prevalence of the tropical flora it supports. Dunes and foredunes of the tropical portion of the Florida peninsula are distinguished by the presence of Canavalia rosea on the upper beach, and Scaevola plumieri, Suriana maritima, Chamaesyce mesembrianthemifolia, and occasional shrubs of Coccoloba uvifera among Uniola paniculata, a perennial rhizomatous grass, whose stems trap the sand grains blown off the beach, building up the dune by growing upward to keep pace with sand burial. Besides southern Florida, the tropical distribution of this type of grassy sea-oat dunes includes the sandy beaches of the Gulf of Mexico north of the Yucatan Peninsula, Cuba, and the Bahamas.
More stable beach ridges, foredunes and primary dunes of the Antilles and the Caribbean coast of South America are colonized by low, usually leaf-succulent shrubs and subshrubs, many of them of pantropical, tropical American or cosmopolitan distribution. The communities formed are fairly constant throughout the tropics and characteristic dominants include Argusia gnaphalodes, Batis maritima, Borrichia spp., Nolana galapagensis, Scaevola plumieri, Suriana maritima, and Uniola paniculata. Low chenopod shrubs such as Atriplex peruviana, Salicornia "virginica" s.l. (Salicornia "fruticosa" s.l.) are also typically present.
The macrogroup also includes shrub thickets, known in Florida as coastal berms, found on long narrow storm-deposited ridges of loose sediment formed by a mixture of coarse shell fragments, pieces of coralline algae, and other coastal debris. These ridges parallel the shore and may be found in low-energy coastlines in south Florida and the Florida Keys, on the seaward edge or landward edge of the mangroves or further inland depending on the height of the storm surge that formed them. Similar shoreline thicket communities occur in several of the Caribbean islands on locations with mangroves and similar storm dynamics. These thickets are dominated by shrubs and herbs accompanied by small trees, all of tropical floristic affinity. Rock pavement and coastal cliffs are dominated by Rachicallis americana and Borrichia arborescens that occur in supra-tidal pavement areas.
Diagnostic Characteristics: The beach environment of this macrogroup is primarily upland, with some wet patches fed by groundwater. The vegetation may be sparse or patchy in its cover. The rocky or shifting substrate (of sand in most cases) largely limits the vegetation to pioneering, salt-tolerant, succulent annuals or perennial vines. Perennial vines are generally more characteristic of tropical beaches than of temperate ones.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Due to the shared occurrence of Canavalia rosea, Uniola paniculata, and other beach grasses further north in Florida and Texas and up to the coast of Virginia, the boundary between the tropical Caribbean communities of south Florida and the south temperate ones is poorly distinguished. Some of the dominant shrubs also occur in tropical salt marsh communities. Borhidi (1991) separates the sandy shoreline vegetation into a separate class from the rocky shoreline vegetation. Here we make that distinction at the group level.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The dynamic disturbance regimes largely limit the vegetation of sandy beaches and dunes to pioneering, salt-tolerant, succulent annuals and perennial vines, which are more prevalent in these tropical examples, as compared to more northerly and temperate ones. The stands of vegetation are generally low in stature (with some clumps of taller grasses) and have sparse to patchy cover. The landward communities of coastal berms and more stable dunes form a short-statured forest or scrub ranging in height from 0.5 to 3 m, and whose structure and composition are variable depending on height and time since the last storm event.
Floristics: The main components of the upper beach communities are very constant throughout the tropics, comprising, in particular, the creeping Ipomoea pes-caprae and Canavalia rosea. Specifically, tropical American elements include Alternanthera ficoidea, Batis maritima, Capraria biflora, Heliotropium curassavicum, and Tephrosia cinerea (= var. littoralis). Ipomoea pes-caprae, the grass Sporobolus virginicus, and various succulents are among the principal dominants.
Beach ridges, foredunes and primary dunes of the Caribbean coasts are colonized by dense scrubs dominated by the succulent subshrub Argusia gnaphalodes (= Tournefortia gnaphalodes) and the succulent shrub Suriana maritima with Chamaesyce mesembrianthemifolia (= Euphorbia mesembrianthemifolia), often accompanied by Blutaparon vermiculare, Cyperus spp., Erigeron spp., Opuntia spp., Sesuvium portulacastrum, Stemodia maritima, Talinum paniculatum, and occasional, Borrichia arborescens, Scaevola plumieri, Spilanthes urens, and Turnera ulmifolia. These communities are typical of stabilized sites where there is a continuous supply of sand brought by the trade winds. In the Caribbean coasts, ephemeral growth of Blutaparon vermiculare (= Philoxerus vermicularis), Cakile lanceolata, Cyperus spp., Diodia serrulata (= Diodia maritima), Fimbristylis cymosa (= Fimbristylis spathacea), Kyllinga spp., and Lepidium virginicum is characteristic, accompanied by patches of Heliotropium curassavicum and Sesuvium portulacastrum, mostly limited to small depressions. Locally, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Alternanthera maritima, Remirea maritima, and other upper beach and foredune species may invade the pioneer foreshore and lower backshore zone. Perennial vines such as Canavalia rosea and Ipomoea pes-caprae are generally more characteristic of tropical beaches than of temperate ones.
In southeastern Florida the most stable berms may share some tree species with rockland hammocks, but generally have a greater proportion of shrubs and herbs (Ross et al. 1992, as cited in FNAI 2010a). Tree species may include Bursera simaruba, Casasia clusiifolia (= Genipa clusiifolia), Coccoloba uvifera, Coccothrinax argentata, Drypetes diversifolia, Guapira discolor, and Metopium toxiferum. Characteristic tall shrub and short tree species include Eugenia foetida, Pithecellobium keyense, Randia aculeata, Sideroxylon celastrinum, and Ximenia americana. Short shrubs and herbs include Hymenocallis latifolia, Lantana involucrata, and Rivina humilis (Ross et al. 1992, Kruer 1992, as cited in FNAI 2010a). The sparsely vegetated coastal rocky cliffs and pavement are characterized by Borrichia arborescens, Conocarpus erectus, Erithalis fruticosa, Lithophila muscoides, Opuntia dillenii, Rachicallis americana, Sesuvium maritimum, Sesuvium portulacastrum, Strumpfia maritima, and Trianthema portulacastrum.
Beach ridges, foredunes and primary dunes of the Caribbean coasts are colonized by dense scrubs dominated by the succulent subshrub Argusia gnaphalodes (= Tournefortia gnaphalodes) and the succulent shrub Suriana maritima with Chamaesyce mesembrianthemifolia (= Euphorbia mesembrianthemifolia), often accompanied by Blutaparon vermiculare, Cyperus spp., Erigeron spp., Opuntia spp., Sesuvium portulacastrum, Stemodia maritima, Talinum paniculatum, and occasional, Borrichia arborescens, Scaevola plumieri, Spilanthes urens, and Turnera ulmifolia. These communities are typical of stabilized sites where there is a continuous supply of sand brought by the trade winds. In the Caribbean coasts, ephemeral growth of Blutaparon vermiculare (= Philoxerus vermicularis), Cakile lanceolata, Cyperus spp., Diodia serrulata (= Diodia maritima), Fimbristylis cymosa (= Fimbristylis spathacea), Kyllinga spp., and Lepidium virginicum is characteristic, accompanied by patches of Heliotropium curassavicum and Sesuvium portulacastrum, mostly limited to small depressions. Locally, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Alternanthera maritima, Remirea maritima, and other upper beach and foredune species may invade the pioneer foreshore and lower backshore zone. Perennial vines such as Canavalia rosea and Ipomoea pes-caprae are generally more characteristic of tropical beaches than of temperate ones.
In southeastern Florida the most stable berms may share some tree species with rockland hammocks, but generally have a greater proportion of shrubs and herbs (Ross et al. 1992, as cited in FNAI 2010a). Tree species may include Bursera simaruba, Casasia clusiifolia (= Genipa clusiifolia), Coccoloba uvifera, Coccothrinax argentata, Drypetes diversifolia, Guapira discolor, and Metopium toxiferum. Characteristic tall shrub and short tree species include Eugenia foetida, Pithecellobium keyense, Randia aculeata, Sideroxylon celastrinum, and Ximenia americana. Short shrubs and herbs include Hymenocallis latifolia, Lantana involucrata, and Rivina humilis (Ross et al. 1992, Kruer 1992, as cited in FNAI 2010a). The sparsely vegetated coastal rocky cliffs and pavement are characterized by Borrichia arborescens, Conocarpus erectus, Erithalis fruticosa, Lithophila muscoides, Opuntia dillenii, Rachicallis americana, Sesuvium maritimum, Sesuvium portulacastrum, Strumpfia maritima, and Trianthema portulacastrum.
Dynamics: Plants on the foredune are regularly exposed to salt spray and sand burial from onshore winds. Plants on the upper beach are subject to these stresses plus occasional inundation by seasonal or storm tides and periodic destruction by waves. The plants of the beach dune community are adapted to either withstand these stresses or to rapidly re-colonize from seed or vegetative parts following destruction. Fertilization from piles of seaweed washed up by storms helps to speed plant growth and the re-colonization process. Once a new foredune ridge blocks salt spray and plant cover inhibits sand movement, inland herbaceous and eventually woody species can begin to replace the coastal pioneer species of the beach dune community in the backdune area. The southeast coast of Florida has some of the highest wave energy along the entire Atlantic Coastal Plain (Tanner 1960). The coastal berm is deposited by storm waves along low-energy coasts. Their distance inland depends on the height of the storm surge. Tall berms may be the product of repeated storm deposition. Excavation of one berm in the Florida Keys revealed several layers of buried soils, evidence for burial by repeated storms at relatively long intervals (Kruer 1992, as cited in FNAI 2010a). Coastal berms that are deposited far enough inland and remain long-undisturbed may in time succeed to maritime hammock (FNAI 2010a). Fires are rare to non-existent in this scrub community. In south Florida, invasion by exotics, including Casuarina equisetifolia, Schinus terebinthifolius, Scaevola sericea var. sericea, Thespesia populnea, and Colubrina asiatica, following storm disturbance is an ongoing threat to this community.
Environmental Description: This macrogroup is found on reliefs constituted either by dunes, onshore wind-carried sand deposits arranged in cordons of ridges parallel to the coast, or by beach-ridges, wave and longshore drift-carried sand deposits, also often organized in successive parallel berms produced by the progradation of the beach. Beach dune may be distinguished from coastal grassland by its position above the immediate shoreline and by the dominance of grasses, such as Uniola and Panicum, that are tolerant of being buried in sand. It differs from coastal berm in its position facing the open ocean on a sandy coast rather than on a storm-deposited shell ridge on a mangrove-dominated shoreline. The sparsely vegetated coastal cliffs, rocky outcrops, dogtooth limestone, and boulderfields are supra-tidal and exposed to winds and salt spray. Climate: The climate is tropical to subtropical, with frosts being extremely rare events.
Geographic Range: This system occurs in the Caribbean islands, extreme southern peninsular Florida, the Florida Keys, and Mexico.
Nations: BS?,BZ,CO,CR,CU,DO,GT,HN,HT,JM,MX,NI,PA,PR,US,VE,VI,XC
States/Provinces: FL, MXQUE, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.885015
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.A Tropical Grassland, Savanna & Shrubland Subclass | S01 | 2.A |
| Formation | 2.A.3 Tropical Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation | F024 | 2.A.3 |
| Division | 2.A.3.Ee Caribbean-Mesoamerican Dune & Coastal Grassland & Shrubland Division | D254 | 2.A.3.Ee |
| Macrogroup | 2.A.3.Ee.1 Seashore Dropseed - Bayhops - Bay-cedar Coastal Dune & Beach Vegetation Macrogroup | M700 | 2.A.3.Ee.1 |
| Group | 2.A.3.Ee.1.a Gull-feed - Bay-cedar - Bayhops Caribbean Coastal Beach & Dune Group | G127 | 2.A.3.Ee.1.a |
| Group | 2.A.3.Ee.1.b Shoreline Sea-purslane Caribbean Coastal Rocky Shore & Cliff Group | G467 | 2.A.3.Ee.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Ipomoea-Mallotonietea (Borhidi 1991) [Herbaceous and shrubby vegetation of tropical sandy shores.]
> Sesuvio-Rachicallietea (Borhidi 1991) [Halophytic vegetation of the supratidal rocky shores of the Caribbean.]
> Sesuvio-Rachicallietea (Borhidi 1991) [Halophytic vegetation of the supratidal rocky shores of the Caribbean.]
- Barbour, M. G., M. Rejmanek, A. F. Johnson, and B. M. Pavlik. 1987. Beach vegetation and plant distribution patterns along the northern Gulf of Mexico. Phytocoenologia 15:201-234.
- Borhidi, A. 1991. Phytogeography and vegetation ecology of Cuba. Akademiai Kiado. Budapest, Hungary. 858 pp. plus color plates and map by A. Borhidi and O. Muniz (1970) inside of back cover.
- FNAI [Florida Natural Areas Inventory]. 2010a. Guide to the natural communities of Florida: 2010 edition. Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee, FL. 228 pp. [https://fnai.org/naturalcommguide.cfm]
- 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]
- Johnson, A. F., and M. G. Barbour. 1990. Dunes and maritime forests. Pages 429-480 in: R. L. Myers and J. J. Ewel, editors. Ecosystems of Florida. University of Central Florida Press, Orlando.
- Tanner, W. F. 1960. Florida coastal classification. Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions 10:259-266.
- WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2011. Ecological integrity assessments for the ecological systems of Washington. Version: 2.22.2011. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia. [http://www1.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/communities/eia_list.html] (accessed September 9, 2013).