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A3958 Atlantic & Gulf Intertidal Algal Bed Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes vegetation dominated by algal mats in large, seasonally flooded depressions and flats in southern Florida and the West Indies (algal periphyton), as well as large wind-tidal flats (often exceeding a thousand acres in size) dominated by Lyngbya spp., a cyanobacterium (blue-green alga).
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Atlantic & Gulf Intertidal Algal Bed Alliance
Colloquial Name: Atlantic & Gulf Intertidal Algal Bed
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance includes vegetation dominated by algal mats in large, seasonally flooded depressions and flats in southern Florida and the West Indies (algal periphyton), as well as large wind-tidal flats dominated by Lyngbya spp., a cyanobacterium (blue-green alga). The algal periphyton consists of a dense fibrous mixture of cyanobacteria and green algae developed over thin layers of oozy marl overlying oolitic limestone. The cyanobacteria in the algal mats precipitate CaCO3, creating the calcitic marl. A very sparse growth of vascular plants sometimes occurs, including Eleocharis spp., Utricularia spp., or widely scattered and extremely stunted Rhizophora mangle. Chara spp. are sometimes abundant and are typically imbedded in the algal periphyton. Occurrences of this alliance can be large (hundreds to thousands of acres). The Lyngbya-dominated communities occur in subtropical southern Texas (at least as far north as Corpus Christi and likely a bit farther north) and adjacent Tamaulipas, Mexico. These areas are usually exposed but are inundated by extreme high tides and wind tides.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance accommodates distinctive tidal tropical and subtropical algal vegetation.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance accommodates distinctive tidal tropical and subtropical algal vegetation.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The algal periphyton consists of a dense fibrous mixture of cyanobacteria and green algae developed over thin layers of oozy marl overlying oolitic limestone. A very sparse growth of vascular plants sometimes occurs.
Floristics: The algal periphyton vegetation consists of mixtures of cyanobacteria and green algae. A very sparse growth of vascular plants sometimes occurs, including Eleocharis spp., Utricularia spp., or widely scattered and extremely stunted Rhizophora mangle. Chara spp. are sometimes abundant and are typically imbedded in the algal periphyton. Stands of the Lyngbya association (which often exceed a thousand acres in size) are dominated by Lyngbya spp., a cyanobacterium (blue-green alga).
Dynamics: The areas where the Lyngbya spp. vegetation occurs are usually exposed but are inundated by extreme high tides and wind tides.
Environmental Description: Vascular plants are absent or limited in the algal periphyton apparently because of extremely harsh chemistry (physiologically it is probably very difficult for a plant to access any cation other than Ca2+, which swamps out all other cations), and competition with the dominant algae. Individual occurrences can cover hundreds or thousands of acres, and on North Andros Island in the Bahamas, this community probably makes up about 100 square miles out of the total 1000-square-mile island. Total acreage of the Lyngbya spp., community on South Padre Island, Texas, is about 11,500 acres, about 30% of the total land area.
Geographic Range: This vegetation is found in southern Florida and the West Indies, as well as in subtropical southern Texas (at least as far north as Corpus Christi and likely a bit farther north) and adjacent Tamaulipas, Mexico.
Nations: BS,MX,US
States/Provinces: FL, MXTAM, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.900009
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 5 Aquatic Vegetation Class | C05 | 5 |
| Subclass | 5.A Saltwater Aquatic Vegetation Subclass | S09 | 5.A |
| Formation | 5.A.2 Benthic Macroalgae Saltwater Vegetation Formation | F053 | 5.A.2 |
| Division | 5.A.2.Wb Temperate Intertidal Shore Division | D047 | 5.A.2.Wb |
| Macrogroup | 5.A.2.Wb.1 Temperate Atlantic Intertidal Shore Macrogroup | M104 | 5.A.2.Wb.1 |
| Group | 5.A.2.Wb.1.b <i>Lyngbya</i> spp. - Algal Tidal Flat | G923 | 5.A.2.Wb.1.b |
| Alliance | A3958 Atlantic & Gulf Intertidal Algal Bed Alliance | A3958 | 5.A.2.Wb.1.b |
| Association | CEGL004390 Algal Periphyton Vegetation | CEGL004390 | 5.A.2.Wb.1.b |
| Association | CEGL007840 Mermaid''s Hair species Blue-green Algae Tidal Flat | CEGL007840 | 5.A.2.Wb.1.b |
Concept Lineage: A.1830 (one of one) and A.1929 (one of one)
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Duever, M. J., J. E. Carlson, J. F. Meeder, L. C. Duever, L. H. Gunderson, L. A. Riopelle, T. R. Alexander, R. L. Myers, and D. P. Spangler. 1986. The Big Cypress National Preserve. National Audubon Society Research Report No. 8. National Audubon Society, New York. 444 pp.
- 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.
- Judd, F. W., R. I. Lonard, J. H. Everitt, D. E. Escobar, and M. R. Davis. 1998. Wind-tidal flats and dune vegetation of South Padre Island, Texas. Manuscript presented at the Fifth International Conference on Remote Sensing for Marine and Coastal Environments, San Diego, CA. 5-7 October 1998.
- Kushlan, J. A. 1990. Freshwater marshes. Pages 324-363 in: R. L. Myers and J. J. Ewel, editors. Ecosystems of Florida. University of Central Florida Press, Orlando.