Print Report
A4132 North Atlantic Intertidal Mudflat Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance comprises tidal mudflats on the North Atlantic Coast; they are largely unvegetated but may support Ulva lactuca on the surface intermittently.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: North Atlantic Intertidal Mudflat Alliance
Colloquial Name: North Atlantic Intertidal Mudflat
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This is a saline (>18.0 ppt) intertidal mudflat community that typically lacks vegetation. Ulva lactuca may be present or prominent. The substrate consists of silt or sand that is rich in organic matter and poorly-drained at low tide. These saline intertidal mudflats extend along the North Atlantic Coast from Maine to New York.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Intertidal mudflat of the North Atlantic.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance requires additional data to describe, as well as comparison to CMECS to examine possible overlapping concepts.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The substrate is generally unvegetated, but may have unrooted seaweeds on the surface.
Floristics: No Data Available
Dynamics: Regular tidal flooding.
Environmental Description: Intertidal mudflat with varying amounts of sand.
Geographic Range: This alliance ranges from the Canadian Maritime Provinces to the mid-Atlantic.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.934804
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.a Yellow Tang - Sea-lettuce Intertidal Algal Flat Group | G387 | 5.A.2.Wb.1.a |
| Alliance | A4132 North Atlantic Intertidal Mudflat Alliance | A4132 | 5.A.2.Wb.1.a |
| Association | CEGL006614 Intertidal Mudflats Sparse Vegetation | CEGL006614 | 5.A.2.Wb.1.a |
Concept Lineage: A.3010 Estuarine Tidal Mudflat Sparsely Vegetated Alliance
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Estuarine polyhaline / mesohaline subtidal low energy mixed fines / mud substrate alliance (Sneddon et al. 1995)
- 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.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- Sneddon, L. A., K. J. Metzler, and M. Anderson. 1995. A classification and description of natural community alliances and selected community elements of the Delaware Estuary. In: L. E. Dove and R. M. Nyman, editors. Living resources of the Delaware Estuary. The Delaware Estuary Program. 530 pp. plus appendices.