THE COASTAL SALT MARSHES OF CALIFORNIA AND BAJA-CALIFORNIA - PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL TYPOLOGY AND ZONATION

A comparative study of the North American salt marshes between Magdale na Plain (Baja California, 24 degrees N) and the north of San Francisc o (California 38 degrees N) is made in order to establish relationship s between floristic and zonal gradients. The sigmatistic-phytosociolog ical method along with Average Linkage Clustering are used to describe the zonation of these salt marshes and to define the optimum zone of several halophilous plants and communities. The following associations are typified according to the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature: Spartinetum foliosae, Salicornietum bigelovii, Sarcocor nietum pacificae, Frankenio salinae-Sarcocornietum pacificae, Jaumeo c arnosae-Distichlidetum spicatae, Monantochloo littoralis-Arthrocnemetu m subterminalis, Frankenio salinae-Juncetum acuti, Suaedetum moquinii, Allenrolfeetum occidentalis, Lagunculario racemosae-Rhizophoretum man gle, Lagunculario racemosae-Avicennietum germinantis and Atriplici jul aceae-Frankenietum palmeri.