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A4008 Cakile edentula Great Lakes Beach Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance describes sparsely vegetated sandy shores of the Great Lakes. Cakile edentula var. lacustris is characteristic; other associates include Chamaesyce polygonifolia, Xanthium strumarium, and Argentina anserina.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Searocket Great Lakes Beach Alliance
Colloquial Name: Great Lakes Searocket Beach
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance describes sparsely vegetated sandy shores of the Great Lakes. Cakile edentula var. lacustris is characteristic; other associates include Chamaesyce polygonifolia, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Lathyrus japonicus, Xanthium strumarium, and Argentina anserina. This vegetation occurs on sandy beaches of the Great Lakes where wave action causes active sand movement, preventing most plants from becoming established.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Sandy beach of Great Lakes shoreline; sparsely vegetated with Cakile edentula var. lacustris characteristic.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Related vegetation not supporting Cakile edentula occurs on the shores of Lake Champlain.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation is sparse and characterized by forbs.
Floristics: Cakile edentula var. lacustris is characteristic; other associates include Chamaesyce polygonifolia, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Lathyrus japonicus, Xanthium strumarium, and Argentina anserina. Ammophila breviligulata (Ammophila champlainensis at the eastern edge of the range) may be sparsely distributed from adjacent dunes. Additional associates may include Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Elymus canadensis, and Pteridium aquilinum.
Dynamics: This vegetation is subjected to wave and wind action and near-constant sand movement.
Environmental Description: This vegetation occurs on sandy beaches of the Great Lakes where wave action causes active sand movement, preventing most plants from becoming established.
Geographic Range: This alliance ranges from Minnesota east to New York and Pennsylvania, north into Manitoba and Ontario.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: IL, IN, MB, ME, MI, MN, NY, OH, ON, PA, SK, VT, WI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.900059
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.d Great Lakes Sand Beach Group | G764 | 2.B.4.Na.1.d |
| Alliance | A4008 American Searocket Great Lakes Beach Alliance | A4008 | 2.B.4.Na.1.d |
| Association | CEGL005162 American Searocket Great Lakes Shore Sparse Vegetation | CEGL005162 | 2.B.4.Na.1.d |
| Association | CEGL006235 American Searocket - Silverweed Cinquefoil Sparse Vegetation | CEGL006235 | 2.B.4.Na.1.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Great Lakes Dunes (NYNHP 2013t)
= Sand and Gravel Beach (Kost et al. 2007)
= Sand and Gravel Beach (Kost et al. 2007)
- 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.
- Fike, J. 1999. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forestry, Harrisburg, PA. 86 pp.
- Kost, M. A., D. A. Albert, J. G. Cohen, B. S. Slaughter, R. K. Schillo, C. R. Weber, and K. A. Chapman. 2007. Natural communities of Michigan: Classification and description. Report No. 2007-21, Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing. 314 pp. [http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/reports/2007-21_Natural_Communites_of_Michigan_Classification_and_Description.pdf]
- NYNHP [New York Natural Heritage Program]. 2013t. Online conservation guide for Great Lakes Dunes. New York Natural Heritage Program, Albany, NY. [http://www.acris.nynhp.org/guide.php?id=9864]