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G752 Northern & Mid-Atlantic Coastal Wetland Group
Type Concept Sentence: This group comprises wetlands of maritime and coastal regions of the northeast and mid-Atlantic states; it includes small-patch wetlands generally referred to as "interdunal swales" and other non-forested wetlands of this region.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Northern & Mid-Atlantic Coastal Wetland Group
Colloquial Name: North Atlantic Coastal Interdunal Wetland
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group comprises small-patch non-forested wetlands exclusive of those that are tidally flooded in maritime and coastal areas of the northeast and mid-Atlantic states. It includes small-patch wetlands generally known as "interdunal swales" as well as other non-forested coastal wetlands that are not tidally flooded. Characteristic species include Fimbristylis castanea, Morella cerifera, Morella pensylvanica, Panicum virgatum, Schoenoplectus pungens, Vaccinium corymbosum, Vaccinium macrocarpon, and species of Juncus.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Small-patch non-forested wetlands that are not tidally flooded, restricted to maritime or coastal settings in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions. They are common in maritime dune systems across the range, or on morainal deposits in coastal New England.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This group ranges from herbaceous-dominated to shrub-dominated. Generally the vegetation is well-developed with high cover, especially later in the growing season. Vegetation of this group is best developed in late summer.
Floristics: Interdunal swales of the glaciated region are commonly dominated by Vaccinium macrocarpon, with associates including Cladium mariscoides and species of Rhynchospora. They generally lack Chamaedaphne calyculata, but support other species often found in bogs, including species of Drosera, Sphagnum, and Pogonia ophioglossoides. In the Mid-Atlantic, interdunal swales are generally more floristically diverse, often characterized by Fimbristylis castanea, Hibiscus moscheutos, Juncus canadensis, Juncus dichotomus, Pluchea odorata, Schoenoplectus pungens, and Thelypteris palustris. Other wetlands support shrub thickets dominated by Cephalanthus occidentalis, Morella cerifera (in the mid-Atlantic), Morella pensylvanica (characteristic of ponds on moraine landscapes in New England), and Vaccinium corymbosum.
Dynamics: Groundwater and rainwater are the only sources of inundation, and water levels decrease or standing water may absent later in the growing season. Some interdunal swales are slightly saline as a result of occasional overwash.
Environmental Description: These small-patch wetlands occur in shallow, seasonally flooded basins occurring in hollows of major dune systems. They also occur on the shores of larger, sometimes deeper ponds that occur on morainal deposits in the glaciated part of the region.
Geographic Range: This group ranges from Maine south along the immediate coast to South Carolina discontinuously to Florida. This group may also occur in southern Canada.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, RI, SC, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.887169
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Panicum virgatum wetland association (Heckscher et al. 1995)
< Vaccinietum macrocarponi (Conard 1935)
< Brackish Interdunal Swales (NYNHP 2013v)
< Interdune swales and ponds (Fleming et al. 2013)
< Mesic shrub zone (Higgins et al. 1971)
< Vaccinietum macrocarponi (Conard 1935)
< Brackish Interdunal Swales (NYNHP 2013v)
< Interdune swales and ponds (Fleming et al. 2013)
< Mesic shrub zone (Higgins et al. 1971)
- Conard, H. S. 1935. The plant associations of central Long Island. The American Midland Naturalist 16:433-516.
- 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]
- Fleming, G. P., K. D. Patterson, K. Taverna, and P. P. Coulling. 2013. The natural communities of Virginia: Classification of ecological community groups. Second approximation. Version 2.6. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division Richmond, VA. [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/natural_communities/ncintro.shtml]
- Heckscher, C. M., W. A. McAvoy, and K. Clancy. 1995. Biological assessment of the Milford Neck Preserve. Division of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Delaware Natural Heritage Program, Smyrna, DE. 29 pp.
- Higgins, E. A. T., R. D. Rappleye, and R. G. Brown. 1971. The flora and ecology of Assateague Island. University of Maryland Experiment Station Bulletin A-172. 70 pp.
- NYNHP [New York Natural Heritage Program]. 2013v. Online conservation guide for Brackish Interdunal Swales. New York Natural Heritage Program, Albany, NY. [http://www.acris.nynhp.org/guide.php?id=9864]
- Swain, P. C., and J. B. Kearsley. 2011. Classification of the natural communities of Massachusetts. Version 1.4. Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Westborough, MA. [http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/natural-heritage/natural-communities/classification-of-natural-communities.html]