One of 11 community types is assigned to CRMS marsh sites by an artificial neural network unsupervised classification system that uses species composition (relative cover) data collected annually from the sites.
Sites classified as Maidencane communities typically consist primarily of one or more of the following taxa (in decreasing abundance): Panicum hemitomon, Leersia hexandria, Sagittaria lancifolia, Eleocharis spp., Thelypteris palustris, Alternanthera philoxeroides, and Typha spp.
Sites classified as Three-Square communities typically consist primarily of one or more of the following taxa (in decreasing abundance): Schoenoplectus americanus, Spartina patens, Sagittaria lancifolia, Lythrum lineare, Cladium mariscus, Eleocharis macrostachya, and Distichlis spicata.
Sites classified as Roseau Cane communities typically consist primarily of one or more of the following taxa (in decreasing abundance): Pharagmites australis, Spartina patens, and Alternanthera philoxeroides.
Sites classified as Paspalum communities typically consist primarily of one or more of the following taxa (in decreasing abundance): Paspalum vaginatum, Schoenoplectus californicus, Spartina patens, Typha latifolia, and Ipomoea sagittata.
Sites classified as Wiregrass communities typically consist primarily of one or more of the following taxa (in decreasing abundance): Spartina patens, Distichlis spicata, and Schoenoplectus americanus.
Sites classified as Bulltongue communities typically consist primarily of one or more of the following taxa (in decreasing abundance): Sagittaria lancifolia, Polygonum punctatum, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Ludwigia grandiflora, and Typha spp.
Sites classified as Needlerush communities typically consist primarily of one or more of the following taxa (in decreasing abundance): Juncus roemerianus, Spartina alterniflora, Spartina patens, and Distichlis spicata.
Sites classified as Bulrush communities typically consist primarily of one or more of the following taxa (in decreasing abundance): Bolboschoenus robustus, Distichlis spicata, Spartina patens, Spartina cynosuroides, Spartina alterniflora, Paspalum distichum, and Juncus roemerianus.
Sites classified as Brackish Mix communities typically consist primarily of one or more of the following taxa (in decreasing abundance): Spartina alterniflora, Spartina patens, Juncus roemerianus, and Distichlis spicata.
Sites classified as Oystergrass communities typically consist primarily of one or more of the following taxa (in decreasing abundance): Spartina patens and Juncus roemerianus.
Sites classified as Saltgrass communities typically consist primarily of one or more of the following taxa (in decreasing abundance): Distichlis spicata, Spartina patens, Spartina alterniflora, and Bolboschoenus robustus.
For more information, see Snedden, G.A., 2019. Patterning emergent marsh vegetation assemblages in coastal Louisiana, USA, with unsupervised artificial neural networks. Applied Vegetation Science 22: 213-229. DOI: 10.1111.avsc.12425