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Table 4.5.1: <strong>Turks</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Caicos</strong> Isl<strong>and</strong>s Vegetation Subclass Classification<br />
Class Subclass<br />
Forest, Woodl<strong>and</strong>, Shrubl<strong>and</strong>, Dwarf<br />
Shrubl<strong>and</strong><br />
Coniferous<br />
Evergreen<br />
Drought Deciduous<br />
Mixed Evergreen/Drought Deciduous<br />
Mixed Coniferous/Broadleaf<br />
Herbaceous Perennial<br />
Annual<br />
Forb<br />
Graminoid<br />
Mixed Graminoid/Forb<br />
Non-Vascular Algae<br />
Sparse Human Altered Clear Cut<br />
Human Altered Maintained L<strong>and</strong>scape<br />
Human Altered Exotic Nuisance Species<br />
Human Altered Aquatic<br />
(Source: SWA Ltd.; Blue Dolphin Research <strong>and</strong> Consulting Inc.; EDSA, 2010)<br />
The most distinctive type of vegetation in the <strong>Caicos</strong> Isl<strong>and</strong>s is the Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis, also<br />
known as Yellow Pine; that makes up the Coniferous woodl<strong>and</strong> communities. This species is unique to the<br />
Bahamas archipelago <strong>and</strong> extensive pine yards are found on North <strong>and</strong> Middle <strong>Caicos</strong>, <strong>and</strong> a small pine yard<br />
on Pine Cay. Generally found in low-lying areas overlying fresh groundwater lenses, this habitat is home to<br />
many important plant species like the TCI endemic Sten<strong>and</strong>rium carolinae <strong>and</strong> is a potential winter home<br />
for the endangered Kirtl<strong>and</strong>’s Warbler Dendroica kirtl<strong>and</strong>ii.<br />
Pine yard habitats are considered to be the most threatened habitat in TCI not only because of their limited<br />
spatial distribution but also because of the introduction of an invasive alien species (IAS) of insect, the Pine<br />
Tortoise Scale. This pest reduces the vigour of trees, causes dieback, impairs reproduction <strong>and</strong> seed<br />
recruitment, <strong>and</strong> encourages the growth of sooty mould that inhibits photosynthesis <strong>and</strong> primary<br />
productivity. Pine yards are known as “fire climax communities” meaning that they require periodic fires to<br />
remove broad-leaf trees so that juvenile pines can get sufficient light. As a result of the scale infection large<br />
amounts of dead trunk <strong>and</strong> limb wood have resulted in seasonal fires burning with significantly greater<br />
intensity <strong>and</strong> time, to which the <strong>Caicos</strong> pine is not adapted.<br />
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