Classification of Vegetation Communities of Maryland: First Iteration

V. HERBACEOUS VEGETATION
V.C.2.N.b. Permanently flooded-tidal temperate or subpolar hydromorphic rooted vegetation
V.C.2.N.b.2. CERATOPHYLLUM DEMERSUM PERMANENTLY FLOODED - TIDAL HERBACEOUS ALLIANCE
Coontail Permanently Flooded - Tidal Herbaceous Alliance

Concept: Wind-tidally flooded floating/submergent wetlands of fresh to oligohaline, river basin guts and large pools. This community is dominated (or codominated) by Ceratophyllum demersum. Other abundant species can include Utricularia macrorhiza and Nymphaea odorata. Other species include Elodea nuttallii, Spirodela polyrrhiza, Wolffiella gladiata, Lemna spp., and Utricularia purpurea. This alliance likely occurs in Louisiana, where it occupies lower (tidal) reaches of bayous.

Range: This alliance is found in Virginia, and possibly in Louisiana (?) and North Carolina (?).

States/Provinces: MD NC? VA

TNC Ecoregions: 57:C, 58:C

USFS Ecoregions: 232Ad:CCC, 232Br:CCC, 232Bt:CCC, 232Bx:CCC, 232Ch:CCC, 232Cj:CCC

References: Fleming 1998

Authors: G.P. FLEMING/A.S. WEAKLEY, JT, Southeast Identifier: A.1767

Concept: This association comprises mixed freshwater subtidal aquatic beds of the mid-Atlantic coast. It occurs in fresh reaches of upper bays and tributaries within estuarine systems. Species composition is variable and includes Vallisneria americana, Ceratophyllum demersum, Heteranthera dubia, Elodea canadensis, Najas guadalupensis, Najas gracillima, Najas minor, Potamogeton pusillus, and others. There is often a strong component of exotic species that can be locally or extensively dominant including Myriophyllum spicatum, Hydrilla verticillata, and Potamogeton crispus, which may be indicative of poorer water quality. This association can have dramatic seasonal fluctuations in species composition and biomass.

Comments: This association is similar to Stuckenia pectinata - Potamogeton perfoliatus - (Zannichellia palustris) Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL006027) in environment and has some overlap in species composition. It is distinguished by its higher species diversity (including the presence of several exotics) and the lack of dominance by Potamogeton species.

Range: The geographic range of this type is centered in the Chesapeake Bay estuary, it but likely occurs in other locations.

States/Provinces: MD:S?, VA:S?

TNC Ecoregions: 58:C

USFS Ecoregions: 232Ad:CCC, 232Br:CCC, 232Bt:CCC, 232Bx:CCC, 232Ch:CCC, 232Cj:CCC

Synonymy: Freshwater Mixed Community (Moore et al. 2000)

References: Fleming 2001, Fleming et al. 2001, Moore et al. 2000, Orth and Moore 1988

Authors: S.L. Neid, ECS Confidence: 3 Identifier: CEGL006048

- Maryland Vegetation Classification Subset Report V.C. Hydromorphic rooted vegetation

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