Southern Coastal Plain Seep and Bog

EVT 7515Southern Coastal Plain Herbaceous Seep and Bog
CES203.078GNRHerbRiparian
Summary
This small-patch ecological system includes wet, fire-maintained, seepage communities in the outermost portions of the East Gulf Coastal Plain, east of the Mississippi River in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and extending across northern Florida. These wetlands are generally found on gentle, almost imperceptible slopes maintained by constant seepage zones and/or perched water tables. Examples are typically grass and sedge dominated, and are often species-rich. Sarracenia spp. are notable indicators of many community types in this system. Shrubs frequently encroach in the absence of fire; due to greater topographic isolation, the most interior examples are often naturally shrubbier.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Vegetation
Examples are typically grass- and sedge dominated, and are often species-rich. Pitcher plants (Sarracenia spp.) are notable indicators of many community types in this system. Rhynchospora spp. are dominant or codominant in many examples. Shrubs (e.g., Lyonia lucida, Ilex glabra, Cyrilla racemiflora) frequently encroach in the absence of fire. Scattered Pinus elliottii var. elliottii, Pinus palustris, and/or Pinus serotina may be present.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Environment
Kindell et al. (1997) document examples in the western Panhandle of Florida on the Leefield, Albany, Pactolus, Pamlico, Rutledge, and Pansey soil series. Albany loamy sand is a common soil type in Florida (FNAI 2010a). Clewell (1981) describes these bogs as commonly occurring between bay swamps and pine flatwoods. These habitats occur on gentle slopes, where seepage water maintains saturated conditions most of the time.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Dynamics
These habitats are kept continuously moist by groundwater seepage (FNAI 2010a). Plants found here tolerate saturated wetland conditions. Frequent fires are necessary to maintain this system. In the absence of fire, shrubs encroach, eventually shading out understory plants. Fires may have occurred every 1-4 years (FNAI 2010a).
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Threats
Threats include lack of fire, alteration to the hydrology, and damage to the herbaceous ground cover from vehicles, feral hog (Sus scrofa) rooting (Engeman et al. 2007), plowlines, and ditching. Lack of fire has been a widespread threat, and generally only sites which are within an area managed for conservation have prescribed fires frequently enough to conserve the biological diversity of this open wetland habitat. The lack of fire can lead to shrub and tree encroachment, increased shading and evapotranspiration, accumulation of leaf litter, and a drying out of the normally saturated soil. Since many of the herbaceous plants which grow in these predominantly herbaceous wetlands have corms, or starchy root structures, feral hogs are a real threat. Feral hogs will turn up the soil and eat the below-ground plant parts (Engeman et al. 2007) and amphibians and invertebrates that live in the wet soil. In doing this they disturb the soil and degrade the habitat. The disturbed soil areas where feral hogs have rooted (or vehicles have rutted the wet soil), can provide habitat for weedy or invasive exotic plants. On lands managed as pine plantations, sometimes the herbaceous seep habitat is bedded and planted in Pinus elliottii var. elliottii or Pinus taeda.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Distribution
This systems is found in the northern Gulf of Mexico region, east of the Mississippi River in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and extending across northern Florida.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Ecologically Associated Plant Species

Plant species that characterize this ecosystem type, organized by vegetation stratum. These are species ecologically associated with the ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific area.

Tree canopy

Nyssa ursina, Pinus elliottii var. elliottii, Pinus palustris, Pinus serotina

Shrub/sapling (tall & short)

Cyrilla racemiflora, Ilex glabra, Kalmia cuneata, Lindera subcoriacea, Lyonia lucida, Pinckneya bracteata, Salix floridana, Sideroxylon thornei

Herb (field)

Agalinis aphylla, Agalinis filicaulis, Andropogon arctatus, Andropogon perangustatus, Aristida simpliciflora, Arnoglossum sulcatum, Asclepias rubra, Asclepias viridula, Balduina atropurpurea, Burmannia capitata, Calamovilfa curtissii, Calopogon barbatus, Calopogon pallidus, Cirsium lecontei, Cleistes divaricata, Drosera tracyi, Eriocaulon nigrobracteatum, Eriocaulon texense, Eurybia eryngiifolia, Eurybia spinulosa, Hartwrightia floridana, Helenium brevifolium, Helenium vernale, Lachnocaulon digynum, Lilium iridollae, Linum macrocarpum, Lobelia boykinii, Lobelia puberula var. pauciflora, Lophiola aurea, Lythrum curtissii, Macranthera flammea, Minuartia godfreyi, Parnassia caroliniana, Parnassia grandifolia, Peltandra sagittifolia, Physostegia godfreyi, Pinguicula ionantha, Pinguicula planifolia, Pinguicula primuliflora, Pinguicula pumila, Pityopsis oligantha, Platanthera blephariglottis var. conspicua, Platanthera integra, Pleea tenuifolia, Rhexia parviflora, Rhynchospora macra, Rhynchospora solitaria, Rhynchospora stenophylla, Rudbeckia auriculata, Ruellia noctiflora, Sabatia brevifolia, Sarracenia alabamensis ssp. wherryi, Sarracenia leucophylla, Sarracenia psittacina, Sarracenia rosea, Sarracenia rubra ssp. gulfensis, Sarracenia rubra ssp. rubra, Spiranthes floridana, Sporobolus teretifolius, Symphyotrichum chapmanii, Xyris chapmanii, Xyris drummondii, Xyris isoetifolia, Xyris louisianica, Xyris scabrifolia
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Ecologically Associated Animals (6)

Animal species ecologically associated with this ecosystem type based on NatureServe assessment. These are species whose habitat requirements overlap with this ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific roadless area.

Mammals (1)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Southeastern ShrewSorex longirostrisG5

Reptiles (1)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Eastern RibbonsnakeThamnophis sauritaG5

Amphibians (3)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Florida Bog FrogLithobates okaloosaeG2
Little Grass FrogPseudacris ocularisG5
Mud SalamanderPseudotriton montanusG5

Other (1)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Holbrook's Southern Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus auriculatusG5
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
At-Risk Species Associated with this Ecosystem (53)

Species with conservation concern that are ecologically associated with this ecosystem type. G-Rank indicates global conservation status: G1 (critically imperiled) through G5 (secure). ESA status indicates U.S. Endangered Species Act listing.

Common NameScientific NameG-RankESA Status
Coastal Plain False FoxgloveAgalinis aphyllaG3G4--
Thread-stem False FoxgloveAgalinis filicaulisG3--
Pinewoods BluestemAndropogon arctatusG3--
Southern Three-awn GrassAristida simplicifloraG3G4--
Georgia Indian-plantainArnoglossum sulcatumG3--
Southern MilkweedAsclepias viridulaG2--
Purple BalduinaBalduina atropurpureaG2--
Le Conte's ThistleCirsium leconteiG3--
Tracy's SundewDrosera tracyiG3G4--
Black-bract PipewortEriocaulon nigrobracteatumG1Under Review
Coyote-thistle AsterEurybia eryngiifoliaG3G4--
Pinewoods AsterEurybia spinulosaG1?--
Florida HartwrightiaHartwrightia floridanaG2G3Under Review
White-wickyKalmia cuneataG3--
Pineland BogbuttonLachnocaulon digynumG3G4--
Bog SpicebushLindera subcoriaceaG3--
Spring Hill FlaxLinum macrocarpumG2--
Florida Bog FrogLithobates okaloosaeG2--
Boykin's LobeliaLobelia boykiniiG2?Under Review
Curtiss' LoosestrifeLythrum curtissiiG2Under Review
FlameflowerMacranthera flammeaG3--
Godfrey's StitchwortMinuartia godfreyiG1Under Review
Bear TupeloNyssa ursinaG3--
Carolina Grass-of-ParnassusParnassia carolinianaG3--
Largeleaf Grass-of-ParnassusParnassia grandifoliaG3G4--
Spoon-flowerPeltandra sagittifoliaG3G4--
Godfrey's False DragonheadPhysostegia godfreyiG3--
Violet-flowered ButterwortPinguicula ionanthaG2Threatened
Chapman's ButterwortPinguicula planifoliaG3?--
Southern ButterwortPinguicula primulifloraG3G4--
Coastal Plain Silk-grassPityopsis oliganthaG2?--
Yellow Fringeless OrchidPlatanthera integraG3G4--
Small-flower MeadowbeautyRhexia parvifloraG2G3Under Review
Large BeakrushRhynchospora macraG3G4--
One-spike BeakrushRhynchospora solitariaG1--
Eared ConeflowerRudbeckia auriculataG2Under Review
Night-flowering Wild PetuniaRuellia noctifloraG3?--
Shortleaf PinkSabatia brevifoliaG3G4--
Florida WillowSalix floridanaG2G3Under Review
Wherry's Sweet PitcherplantSarracenia alabamensis ssp. wherryiG3T1?Under Review
Whitetop PitcherplantSarracenia leucophyllaG3--
Purple PitcherplantSarracenia roseaG3--
Gulf Sweet PitcherplantSarracenia rubra ssp. gulfensisG3G4T2T3--
Red-flowered Sweet PitcherplantSarracenia rubra ssp. rubraG3G4T3T4--
Swamp BuckthornSideroxylon thorneiG3--
Florida Ladies'-tressesSpiranthes floridanaG1--
Wireleaf DropseedSporobolus teretifoliusG2Under Review
Chapman's AsterSymphyotrichum chapmaniiG2G3--
Chapman's Yellow-eyed-grassXyris chapmaniiG3--
Drummond's Yellow-eyed-grassXyris drummondiiG3G4--
Quillwort Yellow-eyed-grassXyris isoetifoliaG2--
Kral's Yellow-eyed-grassXyris louisianicaG2G3--
Harper's Yellow-eyed-grassXyris scabrifoliaG3--
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Component Associations (11)

Plant community associations that occur within this ecological system. Associations are the finest level of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (USNVC) and describe specific, repeating assemblages of plant species. Each association represents a distinct community type that may be found where this ecosystem occurs.

NameG-Rank
Andropogon arctatus - Rhynchospora chapmanii Seepage MeadowG1 NatureServe
Aristida beyrichiana - Rhynchospora oligantha - Panicum nudicaule - (Eurybia eryngiifolia) Seepage MeadowG2 NatureServe
Arundinaria tecta Wet ShrublandG1 NatureServe
Hypericum fasciculatum - Hypericum chapmanii / Aristida palustris - Sarracenia (flava, psittacina) Wet ShrublandG1 NatureServe
Pinus elliottii - (Pinus serotina) / Aristida beyrichiana - Rhynchospora oligantha - Sarracenia spp. WoodlandG2 NatureServe
Pinus palustris - Pinus serotina / Ilex glabra - Lyonia lucida / Ctenium aromaticum WoodlandG3 NatureServe
Pinus serotina / Lyonia lucida - Ilex glabra - (Cyrilla racemiflora) Wet ShrublandG3 NatureServe
Quercus lyrata - Quercus palustris / Acer rubrum / Itea virginica - (Lindera melissifolia) Floodplain ForestG2 NatureServe
Rhynchospora macra - Rhynchospora stenophylla - Panicum nudicaule - Xyris chapmanii - Carex exilis Seepage MeadowG1 NatureServe
Rhynchospora oligantha - Sarracenia (alata, psittacina) - Carphephorus pseudoliatris Seepage MeadowG2 NatureServe
Rhynchospora stenophylla - Rhynchospora macra - Panicum nudicaule - Eriocaulon nigrobracteatum - Pleea tenuifolia Seepage MeadowG1 NatureServe
State Conservation Ranks (4)

Subnational conservation status ranks (S-ranks) assigned by Natural Heritage Programs in each state where this ecosystem occurs. S1 indicates critically imperiled at the state level, S2 imperiled, S3 vulnerable, S4 apparently secure, and S5 secure. An ecosystem may be globally secure but imperiled in specific states at the edge of its range.

StateS-Rank
ALSNR
FLSNR
LASNR
MSSNR
Methodology and Data Sources

Ecosystem classification: Ecosystems are classified using the LANDFIRE 2024 Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) layer, mapped to NatureServe Terrestrial Ecological Systems via a curated crosswalk. Each EVT is linked to the USNVC (U.S. National Vegetation Classification) hierarchy through pixel-level co-occurrence analysis of LANDFIRE EVT and NatureServe IVC Group rasters across all roadless areas.

Vegetation coverage: Coverage percentages and hectares are derived from zonal statistics of the LANDFIRE 2024 EVT raster intersected with roadless area boundaries.

Ecosystem narratives and community species: Sourced from the NatureServe Explorer API, representing professional ecological assessments of vegetation composition, environmental setting, dynamics, threats, and characteristic species assemblages.

IVC hierarchy: The International Vegetation Classification hierarchy is sourced from the USNVC v3.0 Catalog, providing the full classification from Biome through Association levels.

Component associations: Plant community associations listed as components of each NatureServe Ecological System. Association data from the NatureServe Explorer API.

State ranks: Conservation status ranks assigned by NatureServe member programs in each state where the ecosystem occurs.