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CEGL006770 Chara sp. / Potamogeton spp. Nonvascular Aquatic Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Stonewort species / Pondweed species Nonvascular Aquatic Vegetation
Colloquial Name: Stonewort / Pondweed Calcareous Sinkhole Pond
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This nonvascular aquatic vegetation community is found in calcareous sinkhole ponds and marl ponds of the Valley and Ridge Physiographic Province of northwestern New Jersey. The dominant species is the green algae Chara. The most common associate is Potamogeton gramineus. Associated submerged and floating aquatic species found in permanently flooded calcareous ponds include Callitriche palustris, Lemna trisulca, Myriophyllum heterophyllum, Neobeckia aquatica, Polygonum amphibium, Potamogeton illinoensis, Stuckenia vaginata, Potamogeton zosteriformis, Ranunculus ambigens, Ranunculus longirostris, Utricularia gibba, Utricularia intermedia, Utricularia minor, Wolffia brasiliensis, and Wolffiella gladiata. The invasive nonindigenous species Myriophyllum spicatum may be present in permanently flooded ponds that are degraded by nutrient input. The associated aquatic species are often site-specific and locally abundant. Associated herbaceous species in semipermanently flooded calcareous ponds that dry out during the later part of the growing season or in a drought year include Boltonia asteroides var. asteroides, Cyperus strigosus, Panicum capillare, Polygonum amphibium, and Mentha arvensis. The associated herbaceous species are very sparsely distributed in thick mats of dried Chara. Chara is always present and dominant; however, the species composition of associated species varies temporally and spatially, linked inextricably to hydrology and proximal seed bank. Species tally (richness) ranges from 4 to 10, with an average of 6 species per 10 m2.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The dominant species is the green algae Chara. The most common associate is Potamogeton gramineus. Associated submerged and floating aquatic species found in permanently flooded calcareous ponds include Callitriche palustris (= Callitriche verna), Lemna trisulca, Myriophyllum heterophyllum, Neobeckia aquatica (= Armoracia lacustris), Polygonum amphibium, Potamogeton illinoensis, Stuckenia vaginata (= Potamogeton vaginatus), Potamogeton zosteriformis, Ranunculus ambigens, Ranunculus longirostris, Utricularia gibba, Utricularia intermedia, Utricularia minor, Wolffia brasiliensis (= Wolffia papulifera), and Wolffiella gladiata (= Wolffiella floridana). The invasive nonindigenous species Myriophyllum spicatum may be present in permanently flooded ponds that are degraded by nutrient input. The associated aquatic species are often site-specific and locally abundant. Associated herbaceous species in semipermanently flooded calcareous ponds that dry out during the later part of the growing season or in a drought year include Boltonia asteroides var. asteroides, Cyperus strigosus, Panicum capillare, Polygonum amphibium, and Mentha arvensis. The associated herbaceous species are very sparsely distributed in thick mats of dried Chara. Chara is always present and dominant; however, the species composition of associated species varies temporally and spatially, linked inextricably to hydrology and proximal seed bank. Species tally (richness) ranges from 4 to 10, with an average of 6 species per 10 m2.
Dynamics: The hydrology in ponds that support this nonvascular vegetation community is classified as semipermanently flooded. However, it exists across the hydrologic spectrum and can be seasonally flooded, semipermanently flooded, or permanently flooded. The hydroperiod range of the ponds in this study is 14 to 20 weeks, averaging 16 to 18 linear, southwest-northeast orientation weeks. Seasonal water level fluctuations can be dramatic, ranging between 0.3 and 5.5 m (1-18 feet).
Environmental Description: This calcareous aquatic community is found on the bottom of solution sinkholes on Allentown Dolomite with glacial till/bedrock complex surficial deposits. Soils are silt marl, shell marl, or rarely silty clay. They are permanently or periodically inundated and very poorly drained. Soil pH ranges from 7.6-8.0. Aspect is generally flat but can be northwest or southeast, due to the of carbonate bedrock and ponds. Slope is flat but can also be gentle or moderate in basins with steep sides and dramatic water level fluctuations. Elevation ranges from 150 to 152 m (494-498 feet) above mean sea level.
The water is often supersaturated with calcium carbonate that precipitates on the oxygen-rich surface of Chara "stem and leaves," creating a white granular crust on the algae, and forming granular marl on the pond bottom. This community can occur in ponds that have either constant or fluctuating water levels. When calcareous sinkhole ponds are full of water they often contain dense beds of aquatic algae and pondweeds. In sinkhole ponds that are flooded in the winter and spring but drain completely in the summer and fall, the algae and aquatic plants dry out as they are exposed on the marl surface for long periods of time. The decomposed Chara and calcium carbonate precipitate are fundamental components of marl in karst ecosystems, and may be significant components of dolomite and limestone formations.
The water is often supersaturated with calcium carbonate that precipitates on the oxygen-rich surface of Chara "stem and leaves," creating a white granular crust on the algae, and forming granular marl on the pond bottom. This community can occur in ponds that have either constant or fluctuating water levels. When calcareous sinkhole ponds are full of water they often contain dense beds of aquatic algae and pondweeds. In sinkhole ponds that are flooded in the winter and spring but drain completely in the summer and fall, the algae and aquatic plants dry out as they are exposed on the marl surface for long periods of time. The decomposed Chara and calcium carbonate precipitate are fundamental components of marl in karst ecosystems, and may be significant components of dolomite and limestone formations.
Geographic Range: This community is found in calcareous sinkhole ponds and marl ponds of the Valley and Ridge Physiographic Province of northwestern New Jersey.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NJ
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.950094
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.B Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Subclass | S13 | 5.B |
| Formation | 5.B.2 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Formation | F057 | 5.B.2 |
| Division | 5.B.2.Na North American Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Division | D049 | 5.B.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 5.B.2.Na.1 Hornwort species - Pond-lily species - Pondweed species Eastern North American Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Macrogroup | M108 | 5.B.2.Na.1 |
| Group | 5.B.2.Na.1.a American White Water-lily - Sago Pondweed - Pondweed species Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Group | G114 | 5.B.2.Na.1.a |
| Alliance | A4066 Pondweed species - Hornwort species - Waterweed species Aquatic Vegetation Alliance | A4066 | 5.B.2.Na.1.a |
| Association | CEGL006770 Stonewort species / Pondweed species Nonvascular Aquatic Vegetation | CEGL006770 | 5.B.2.Na.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Chara sp. / Potamogeton spp. Non-vascular Aquatic Vegetation (Walz et al. 2001)
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Walz, K. S., R. J. Canace, J. Boyle, R. Witte, M. S. Serfes, W. Honachefsky, J. Kurtz, and R. Dutko. 2001. Identification and protection of reference wetland natural communities in New Jersey: Calcareous sinkhole ponds of the Kittatinny Valley. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Parks and Forestry, Office of Natural Lands Management, Natural Heritage Program, Trenton. 276 pp. plus appendices.