Department of Conservation and Recreation
NATURAL HERITAGE
THE NATURAL COMMUNITIES OF VIRGINIA
CLASSIFICATION OF ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY GROUPS
Second Approximation (Version 2.5)
Information current as of February, 2012
TIDAL WETLANDSEcological community groups of regularly or irregularly flooded, lunar tidal wetlands and irregularly flooded, wind-tidal wetlands. Structurally and compositionally diverse vegetation is represented. In the descriptions that follow, the terms "high" and "low" marsh refer to the relative elevation of stands within the intertidal zone. Wind-Tidal Oligohaline Marshes Tidal Mesohaline and Polyhaline Marshes Tidal Bald Cypress Forests and Woodlands High-Energy Tidal River Shores Tidal Freshwater and Oligohaline Aquatic Beds |
 Gary P. Fleming |
- Table of Contents
Introduction
- Overview of VA Physiography & Vegetation
- Glossary
- Literature
- Format of Descriptions
- Terrestrial System
- High-Elevation Mountain Communities
- Low-Elevation Mesic Forests
- Low-Elevation Dry and Dry-Mesic Forests and Woodlands
- Dry-Mesic Calcareous Forests
- Basic Oak - Hickory Forests
- Acidic Oak - Hickory Forests
- Montane Mixed Oak & Oak-Hickory Forests
- Oak / Heath Forests
- Eastern White Pine - Hardwood Forests
- Piedmont / Coastal Plain Oak - Beech / Heath Forests
- Carolina Hemlock Forests
- Pine - Oak / Heath Woodlands
- Mountain / Piedmont Acidic Woodlands
- Mountain / Piedmont Basic Woodlands
- Montane Dry Calcareous Forests and Woodlands
- Coastal Plain Dry Calcareous Forests and Woodlands
- Oak - Hickory Woodlands and Savannas
- Piedmont Hardpan Forests
- Low-Elevation Boulderfield Forests
- Low-Elevation Rock Outcrops and Barrens
- Low-Elevation Acidic Outcrop Barrens
- Low-Elevation Basic Outcrop Barrens
- Limestone and Dolomite Barrens
- Mountain / Piedmont Calcareous Cliffs
- Mountain / Piedmont Acidic Cliffs
- Central Appalachian Shale Barrens
- Granitic Flatrocks
- Piedmont Prairies
- Ultramafic Woodlands and Barrens
- Riverside Outcrop Barrens
- Lichen / Bryophyte Nonvascular Boulderfields and Outcrops
- Maritime Zone Communities
- Sandy Woodlands of the Coastal Plain and Outer Piedmont
- Palustrine System
- Alluvial Floodplain Communities
- Bald Cypress - Tupelo Swamps
- Coastal Plain / Piedmont Bottomland Forests
- Floodplain Ponds and Pools
- Semipermanent Impoundments
- Piedmont / Mountain Floodplain Forests
- Piedmont / Mountain Swamp Forests
- Piedmont / Mountain Small-Stream Alluvial Forests
- Sand / Gravel / Mud Bars and Shores
- Rocky Bars and Shores
- Riverside Prairies
- Non-Alluvial Wetlands of the Mountains
- Mountain / Piedmont Basic Seepage Swamps
- Mountain / Piedmont Acidic Seepage Swamps
- High-Elevation Seepage Swamps
- Appalachian Bogs
- Montane Woodland Seeps
- Montane Depression Wetlands
- Calcareous Fens
- Mesic and Wet-Mesic Prairies
- Calcareous Spring Marshes and Muck Fens
- Mafic Fens and Seeps
- Spray Cliffs
- Inland Salt Marshes
- Non-Alluvial Wetlands of the Coastal Plain & Piedmont
- Saturated Peatlands of the Coastal Plain
- Non-Tidal Maritime Wetlands
- Riverine System
- Estuarine System
- Tidal Wetlands
- Tidal Freshwater Marshes
- Tidal Oligohaline Marshes
- Wind-Tidal Oligohaline Marshes
- Tidal Mesohaline and Polyhaline Marshes
- Tidal Shrub Swamps
- Tidal Bald Cypress Forests and Woodlands
- Tidal Hardwood Swamps
- High-Energy Tidal River Shores
- Tidal Freshwater and Oligohaline Aquatic Beds
- Tidal Mesohaline and Polyhaline Aquatic Beds
- Salt Flats
- Salt Scrub
- Marine System