Comm #3496
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NY Heritage: Brackish meadow
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accession code: VB.CC.28533.NYHERITAGEBRACK
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Ecological Communities of New York, 2nd Ed. |
2
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A moist, moderately well-drained brackish (0.5-18 ppt) perennial grassland with occasional isolated shrubs that is typically situated in a belt at the upper edge of salt marshes bordering sandy uplands, but may occupy large portions of interdunal basins. The community usually develops in areas with a unique combination of soils and hydrology, on deep deposits of periodically windblown or overwashed gleyed sands that are usually flooded only during spring tides and during major coastal storms, approximately two to three times per year. Periodic sand deposition and volatilized saltwater deposition are thought to prevent dominance by tall shrubs via burial and top killing of shrubs. Soil salinity over long periods of time is relatively low but may show vast fluctuations over short periods of time, producing a constantly stressed environment. Salinity is periodically raised by the regular cycling of tides, inundation during spring tides and storm surges, and volatilized saltwater deposition. Salinity is periodically lowered by dilution from rainwater and the presence of a thin fresh groundwater lens elevated over the underlying saltwater.
The meadow is dominated by halophytic wetland to facultative perennial graminoids and ephemeral herbs. Dominant species include switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), salt-meadow grass (Spartina patens "var. monogyna"), and sedge (Carex silicea). Other graminoids present may include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), spikegrass (Distichlis spicata), knotroot bristlegrass (Setaria parviflora), purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis), Virginia wild rye (Elymus virginicus), panic grass (Panicum amarum), twig-rush (Cladium mariscoides), cyperus (Cyperus polystachyos, C. dentatus), three-square (Scirpus pungens), and black grass (Juncus gerardii).
Characteristic herbs include whorled milkwort (Polygala verticillata), seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens), buttonhead goldenrod (Euthamia tenuifolia), seaside gerardia (Agalinis maritima), pinks (Sabatia spp.), tall wormwood (Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata), asters (Aster spp.), and wild germander (Teucrium canadense). Indicator herbaceous species at low abundance may include New England blazing star (Liatris scariosa var. novae-angliae), sedge (Fimbristylis castanea), salt marsh plantain (Plantago maritima ssp. juncoides), evening primrose (Oenothera parviflora var. oakesiana), and crabgrass (Digitaria filiformis). Sparse dwarf shrubs may include groundsel-tree (Baccharis halimifolia), bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica), and beach-plum (Prunus maritima). The community is prone to weedy exotic species such as red fescue (Festuca rubra), and soapwort (Saponaria officinalis). Floristic composition can fluctuate dramatically over several years in response to the fluctuating soil salinities.
Characteristic fauna include fiddler crabs (Uca pugilator and U. pugnax). The community usually occurs in close association with salt shrub and at slightly higher elevation than high salt marsh. It may develop into high salt marsh after occupation by Spartina patens and development of a peat layer in response to a more regular tidal influence. |
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