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A3639 Cakile edentula ssp. edentula Atlantic Beach Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes annual-dominated sandy, gravel, or cobble beach of upper ocean beaches of the northeastern U.S. and Canadian Maritime Provinces, within the reach of storm tides and extreme lunar tides. Vegetative cover is variable, depending on the amount of exposure to wave and wind action, but on average is sparse; no species can be considered dominant. Annual or biennial species more-or-less restricted to beach habitats are characteristic of this alliance, including Cakile edentula ssp. edentula.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Searocket Atlantic Beach Alliance

Colloquial Name: Atlantic Upper Beach

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance includes annual-dominated sandy, gravel, or cobble beach of upper ocean beaches of the northeastern U.S. and Canadian Maritime Provinces, within the reach of storm tides and extreme lunar tides. Vegetative cover is variable, depending on the amount of exposure to wave and wind action, but on average is sparse; no species can be considered dominant. Annual or biennial species more-or-less restricted to beach habitats are characteristic of this alliance, including Ammophila breviligulata, Cakile edentula ssp. edentula, as well as Salsola kali ssp. kali, Chamaesyce polygonifolia, Honckenya peploides, Cenchrus tribuloides, Amaranthus retroflexus, Chenopodium album, Erechtites hieraciifolius, Atriplex cristata, and Triplasis purpurea. In Maine and the Maritime Provinces, Suaeda maritima, Mertensia maritima, Glaux maritima, Honckenya peploides, Carex silicea, and Elymus repens may be more typical associates.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Any combination of Cakile edentula, Salsola kali, Chamaesyce polygonifolia, Glaux maritima, and Honckenya peploides occurring on upper beaches from northern North Carolina to Maine and the Canadian Maritime Provinces.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance had been split between ~North Atlantic Coastal Beach Group (G660)$$ and former North American Atlantic Rocky Strand Group (G564), but that resulted in single association groups with similar floristics and environmental processes. G654 has been archived. Consider removing North Carolina from the range.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetative cover is variable, depending on the amount of exposure to wave and wind action, but on average is sparse; no species can be considered dominant.

Floristics: Annual or biennial species more-or-less restricted to upper beach habitats are characteristic of this alliance, including Cakile edentula ssp. edentula, as well as Salsola kali ssp. kali (= Salsola caroliniana), Chamaesyce polygonifolia, Honckenya peploides, Cenchrus tribuloides, Amaranthus retroflexus, Chenopodium album, Erechtites hieraciifolius, Sesuvium portulacastrum, Triplasis purpurea, and Atriplex cristata (= Atriplex arenaria). Amaranthus pumilus, a globally rare species, is restricted to this habitat. In Maine and the Maritime Provinces, Suaeda maritima, Mertensia maritima, Glaux maritima, Honckenya peploides, Carex silicea, and Elymus repens (= Elytrigia repens) may be more typical associates.

Dynamics:  This vegetation is extremely dynamic, inhabiting the upper reach of Atlantic coastal beaches where storm tides and neap tides deposit wrack. It is removed by extreme wave action, and can establish in newly deposited sandy beaches following storms.
Environmental Description:  Annual-dominated sand flats on island end flats and upper ocean beaches, within the reach of storm tides and extreme lunar tides. This vegetation can occur at the base of dunes, and usually has substantial algal wrack.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs from northern North Carolina along the immediate coastline to and including the Maritime Provinces of Canada.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  CT, DE, LB?, MA, MD, ME, NB?, NC, NF?, NH, NJ, NS?, NY, PE?, QC?, RI, VA


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.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.4 Temperate to Polar Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation F005 2.B.4
Division 2.B.4.Na Eastern North American Coastal Scrub & Herb Vegetation Division D026 2.B.4.Na
Macrogroup 2.B.4.Na.1 Eastern North American Coastal Beach & Rocky Shore Macrogroup M060 2.B.4.Na.1
Group 2.B.4.Na.1.b North Atlantic Coastal Beach Group G660 2.B.4.Na.1.b
Alliance A3639 American Searocket Atlantic Beach Alliance A3639 2.B.4.Na.1.b
Association CEGL004400 American Searocket - Seaside Sandmat Sparse Beach Vegetation CEGL004400 2.B.4.Na.1.b
Association CEGL006106 American Searocket - Oysterleaf Sparse Beach Vegetation CEGL006106 2.B.4.Na.1.b
Concept Lineage: A.1861, in part

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Cakile edentula-Chenopodium album community (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
= Cakiletum edentula (Conard 1935)
? Beach community (Johnson 1985b)
? Beach community (Hill 1986)
? beach (McDonnell 1979)
? beach (Higgins et al. 1971)
? beach community (Baumann 1978b)
? beach vegetation (Moul 1973)
? dune-strand area (Clovis 1968)
? embryo dune (Klotz 1986)
? middle beach (Shreve et al. 1910)
? pioneer beach community (Boule 1979)
= sea-strand vegetation, beach formation (Harshberger 1900)
Concept Author(s): H.S. Conard (1935)

Author of Description: L. Sneddon

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
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