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NY Heritage: Salt shrub | Ecological Communities of New York, 2nd Ed.
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Name: NY Heritage: Salt shrub
Reference: Ecological Communities of New York, 2nd Ed.
Description: A shrubland community that forms the ecotone between salt marsh and upland vegetation. Salinity levels are generally lower here than in the salt marsh (soil pore salinity ranges 7 ppt to 27 ppt); and the elevation is higher. Salt shrub does not usually develop on deep peat. More often, it occurs on a thin (0-10 cm) layer of peat, and soils share characteristics of both estuarine and maritime terrestrial settings. Periodic disturbance associated with storms causes die-back of shrubs. Characteristic shrubs are groundsel-tree (Baccharis halimifolia), saltmarsh-elder (Iva frutescens), and pasture rose (Rosa carolina); salt-meadow grass (Spartina patens), black-grass (Juncus gerardii), and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) are typical herbs. Salt shrub is almost always dominated by Iva frutescens on the marshward edge of the community, often forming a stunted leading edge of the community. Baccharis halimifolia only becomes more dominant in the older, more developed, landward side. The landward side of salt shrub is usually the most diverse. A characteristic animal is marsh wren (Cistothorus palustris). Salt shrub is usually present as a linear feature at the upper edge of a salt marsh marking the limit of the highest spring and storm tides within a given estuarine basin. In areas where the local topography is nearly level an extensive shrubland or brackish meadow may occur. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.28743.NYHERITAGESALTS
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 2
      Party Perspective according to: Howard, Timothy
Perspective from: 03-Dec-2004 to: ongoing
      Names:   Other: NY Heritage: Salt shrub