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A3188 Rhizophora mangle Fringe Mangrove Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: These are mangrove forests dominated by Rhizophora mangle (usually monospecific, though Avicennia germinans and Laguncularia racemosa can occur), in tidal areas on mangrove islands or overwash forests, and in situations where the mangrove community fronts sheltered bays, lagoons, open coasts, and along tidal and non-tidal rivers and creeks.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Red Mangrove Fringe Mangrove Alliance

Colloquial Name: Tidal Fringe Red Mangrove

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: These are mangrove forests and shrublands dominated by Rhizophora mangle (usually monospecific, though Avicennia germinans and Laguncularia racemosa can occur), in tidal areas on mangrove islands or overwash forests, and in situations where the mangrove community fronts sheltered bays, lagoons, open coasts, and along tidal rivers and creeks. It also occurs along non-tidal rivers and creeks.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Tidal mangrove forests which are most commonly dominated by Rhizophora mangle and including tidal Avicennia germinans mangrove, as well.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Riverine mangroves dominated by Rhizophora mangle are included here.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Mainly this alliance is represented by closed-canopy mangrove forests, but shrublands of this alliance occur in more stressed sites than Rhizophora mangle forests and have shorter individuals (less than 5 m, and usually only 0.5-2 m tall); the physiognomic structure varies from nearly closed to open (canopy closure 25-90%).

Floristics: This alliance consists of tidal mangrove forests dominated by Rhizophora mangle. Canopy closure is usually high, but more open canopies can occur, especially as a result of hurricane damage or environmental stress; they are included here. These communities are generally very simple floristically. Some other characteristic species include Laguncularia racemosa, Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense, and Avicennia germinans.

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:  This alliance occurs in coastal areas, islets, and along tidal shores which receive regular tidal inundation. It occurs in tidal areas on mangrove islands or overwash forests (Lugo and Snedaker 1974), and in situations where the mangrove community fronts sheltered bays, lagoons, open coasts, and along tidal rivers and creeks. It also occurs along non-tidal rivers and creeks (Lugo and Snedaker 1974, Odum and McIvor 1990). Tidal mangrove forests mostly occur on deep peats. Areas dominated by stunted Rhizophora mangle occur in highly stressed situations (such as full saline, shallowly underlain by oolite). Hydrologically, these communities are inundated for long periods, and occur not on peats but on calcareous muds 2-30 cm deep over limestone.
Geographic Range: Southern Florida, including the Florida Keys (Ross et al. 1992). It also occurs in southern Texas, the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, and in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Martinique, and elsewhere in the Caribbean.

Nations: BS,CU,MQ,MX,PR,US

States/Provinces:  FL, MXTAM, TX


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 A3188 Red Mangrove Fringe Mangrove Alliance A3188 1.A.5.Ua.3.b
Association CEGL003803 Red Mangrove Scrub CEGL003803 1.A.5.Ua.3.b
Association CEGL004764 Red Mangrove Fringe Forest CEGL004764 1.A.5.Ua.3.b
Association CEGL004765 Red Mangrove Overwash Island Forest CEGL004765 1.A.5.Ua.3.b
Association CEGL004827 Black Mangrove Forest CEGL004827 1.A.5.Ua.3.b
Association CEGL007066 Red Mangrove - (Black Mangrove, White Mangrove) Riverine Forest CEGL007066 1.A.5.Ua.3.b
Association CEGL007603 Red Mangrove Medium Island Forest CEGL007603 1.A.5.Ua.3.b
Concept Lineage: Most associations come from old alliance A.83.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
Concept Author(s): C. Nordman, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: C. Nordman

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant descriptive information previously compiled by Eileen Helmer.

Version Date: 01-08-14
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