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A0473 Conocarpus erectus Fringe Mangrove Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of woodlands with an open to widely scattered canopy of tree-sized Conocarpus erectus, with herbaceous or shrubby understories. Epiphytes are sometimes very abundant. These communities occur in upper tidal areas, slightly higher (0.2-1 m) than the mean high tide line but are generally flooded by storm tides.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Button Mangrove Fringe Mangrove Alliance
Colloquial Name: Fringe Buttonwood Mangrove
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance consists of woodlands with an open to widely scattered canopy of tree-sized Conocarpus erectus, with herbaceous or shrubby understories. Typical associated canopy and large-shrub species may include Conocarpus erectus, Rhizophora mangle, Laguncularia racemosa, Avicennia germinans, Metopium toxiferum, Persea palustris, Sabal palmetto, and Taxodium ascendens. Epiphytes are sometimes very abundant, and can include Tillandsia spp., Pleopeltis polypodioides ssp. michauxiana, Phlebodium aureum, Encyclia tampensis, and Vanilla barbellata. In grassy associations, typical species may include Sporobolus virginicus, Fimbristylis spp., Spartina spartinae, Borrichia frutescens, Borrichia arborescens, Panicum virgatum, Sporobolus pyramidatus, Salicornia depressa, and Eustoma exaltatum. These communities are found in upper tidal and supratidal areas and on slightly elevated marl soils, where they are generally flooded only by seasonal high tides or storm tides. They occur slightly higher (0.2-1 m) than the mean high tide line.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Buttonwood Forest, a variant of Mangrove Swamp (FNAI 2010a), is found in upper tidal and supratidal areas and on slightly elevated marl soils. It is dominated by Conocarpus erectus and often has many epiphytes, especially bromeliads (Hilsenbeck et al. 1979).
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Buttonwood Forest is the only described variant of Mangrove Swamp in the guide to the natural communities of Florida (FNAI 2010a).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance consists of forests or woodlands with an open to widely scattered canopy of tree-sized Conocarpus erectus, with herbaceous or shrubby understories. Epiphytes can be very abundant, especially bromeliads (Hilsenbeck et al. 1979).
Floristics: This alliance consists of mostly supratidal mangrove forests dominated by Conocarpus erectus, usually at high cover. Typical associated canopy and large-shrub species may include Avicennia germinans, Conocarpus erectus, Laguncularia racemosa, Metopium toxiferum, Persea palustris, Rhizophora mangle, Sabal palmetto, and Taxodium ascendens. Epiphytes are sometimes very abundant and can include Encyclia tampensis, Phlebodium aureum, Pleopeltis polypodioides ssp. michauxiana, Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia fasciculata, Tillandsia flexuosa, Tillandsia paucifolia, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia bartramii x fasciculata (= Tillandsia x smalliana), and Vanilla barbellata. In grassy associations, typical species may include Borrichia arborescens, Borrichia frutescens, Eustoma exaltatum, Fimbristylis spp., Panicum virgatum, Salicornia virginica, Spartina spartinae, Sporobolus pyramidatus, and Sporobolus virginicus.
Dynamics: Mangroves are limited by the effects of freezing weather, as they are not adapted to freezing (Lugo and Zucca 1977). Hurricanes also reduce mangrove forests. For example, a well-developed mangrove forest with trees up to 60 cm (2 feet) in diameter and 150 years old was destroyed by Hurricane Donna in 1960 (Craighead 1971). Hurricane Andrew in 1992 resulted in areas of mangrove being knocked down by wind. The regeneration of these mangroves since 1992 has been studied. The pulses of the tides and freshwater runoff are also very important factors in the dynamics of mangroves and the distribution of the different mangrove species. Fringe mangroves are flushed by regular tides, and many areas have significant brackish water influence (i.e., riverine mangrove). Lightning is also an important disturbance factor, causing mangrove trees to die in small areas around lightning strikes.
Environmental Description: Forests dominated by buttonwood often exist in upper tidal and supratidal areas, especially where mangrove swamp transitions to rockland hammock (FNAI 2010a). They are found on slightly elevated marl soils, where they are generally flooded by storm tides, slightly higher (0.2-1 m) than the mean high tide line.
Geographic Range: In southern Florida, extensive well-developed buttonwood forests are common along Florida Bay (FNAI 2010a). This alliance is found in Florida, Cuba, and elsewhere in the Caribbean.
Nations: CU,US,XA
States/Provinces: FL
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.898993
Confidence Level: Low
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.5 Mangrove Formation | F006 | 1.A.5 |
| Division | 1.A.5.Ua Atlantic-Caribbean & East Pacific Mangrove Division | D004 | 1.A.5.Ua |
| Macrogroup | 1.A.5.Ua.3 Black Mangrove - White Mangrove - Red Mangrove Macrogroup | M005 | 1.A.5.Ua.3 |
| Group | 1.A.5.Ua.3.b Red Mangrove Forest Group | G004 | 1.A.5.Ua.3.b |
| Alliance | A0473 Button Mangrove Fringe Mangrove Alliance | A0473 | 1.A.5.Ua.3.b |
| Association | CEGL003505 Button Mangrove - Red Mangrove - White Mangrove - Florida Poisontree / Airplant species Woodland | CEGL003505 | 1.A.5.Ua.3.b |
| Association | CEGL003506 Button Mangrove / Seashore Dropseed - Gulf Cordgrass Woodland | CEGL003506 | 1.A.5.Ua.3.b |
| Association | CEGL003802 Black Mangrove / Chickenclaws Scrub | CEGL003802 | 1.A.5.Ua.3.b |
| Association | CEGL007600 Button Mangrove Forest | CEGL007600 | 1.A.5.Ua.3.b |
Concept Lineage: (description from A.473, description fits this new alliance fairly well)
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Borhidi, A., O. Muñiz, and E. del Risco. 1979. Clasificación fitocenológica de la vegetación de Cuba. Acta Bot. Acad. Sci. Hung. 25:263-301.
- Craighead, F. C., Jr. 1971. The trees of south Florida. Volume I. The natural environments and their succession. University of Miami Press, Coral Gables. 212 pp.
- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
- 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, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
- Hilsenbeck, C. E., R. H. Hofstetter, and T. R. Alexander. 1979. Preliminary synopsis of major plant communities in the East Everglades area: Vegetation map supplement. Unpublished document. Metropolitan Dade County Planning Department, Miami, FL.
- Lugo, A. E., and C. P. Zucca. 1977. The impact of low temperature stress on mangrove structure and growth. Tropical Ecology 18:149-161.
- Lugo, Ariel. Personal communication. Director, International Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest Service, USA.