Alaska Arctic Tundra Vegetation Map
Bioclimate Subzone E
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Introduction - Subzone C - Subzone D - Subzone E
The subzone description below lists Alaska plant communities along a toposequence on acidic and non-acidic substrates; in subzones C, D and E; in the three floristic provinces of Northern Alaska (
), Beringian Alaska (
) and Northern Beringian Islands (
). Blocks of rows are positions along a mesotopographic gradient (see Mesotopographic gradient). Dominant plant functional types and species are listed where data were available. Literature citations (in small font) include unit names, habitat, citation and location.
See the Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map Subzone E for a complete subzone description.
Subzone E (Arctic Foothills, Seward Peninsula, and southwestern Alaska)
Floristic provinces:
- Northern Alaska
- Beringian Alaska
- Northern Beringian Islands
| Habitat along the meso-topographic gradient | Acidic substrates (community # 35-70) | Non-acidic substrates (community # 71-85) |
|---|---|---|
| Dry exposed sites | 35. Vaccinio uliginosi-Salicetum phlebophyllae Assoc. 43, prostrate vegetation of ridgetops on acidic soils (Cooper 1986) (Arrigetch Mtns.).
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71. Selaginello sibiricae-Dryadetum octopetalae, dry gravelly soils (Walker et al. 1994) (Toolik Lake). |
| 36. Carici scirpoideae-Vaccinietum uliginosi, Assoc. 18 (Cooper 1986) (Arrigetch Mtns.)
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72. Caricetum scirpoideo-rupestris, Assoc.30, limestone slopes (Cooper 1986) (Arrigetch Mtns.). | |
| 37. Selaginello sibiricae-Dryadetum octopetalae, dry gravelly soils (Walker et al. 1994) (Imnavait Creek). |
73. Alpine Dryas stand ; Map units 61 lichen meadow, mountain (Hanson 1953), 71 Dryas limestone slope, and 72 bald limestone slope (Swanson and Schuman 1985); Vegetation type Dryas dwarf-shrub tundra (Racine and Anderson 1979); Releves C5, C17, C-H (Raynolds et al. 2002) (Seward Peninsula).
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| 38. Salici phlebophyllae-Arctoetum alpinae, dry acidic organic soils (Walker et al. 1994) (Imnavait Creek). |
74. Rock desert , Lava A,B,C (Raynolds et al. 2002) (Seward Peninsula).
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| 39. Map units 65 lichen slope and 70 lichen granitic slope (Swanson and Schuman 1985); Vegetation type dwarf-shrub tundra (Racine and Anderson 1979); Releves C13, QC35, QC36 (Raynolds et al. 2002) (Seward Peninsula). |
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| 40. Sites V1,4,5 (Talbot et al. 1985); Map unit 4 ; description of Askinuk Mtns.(McCaffery and Harwood 1997); Map Units D1a, M11 (Tande and Jennings 1986), lowland moist low scrub (Jorgenson 2000) (Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta).
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| Moist sites | 41. Sphagno-Eriophoretum vaginati, tussock tundra on acidic fine grained soils (Walker et al. 1994) (Imnavait Creek).
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75. Dryado integrifoliae-Caricetum bigelowii, moist calcareous tundra (Walker et al. 1994) (Toolik Lake).
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| 41 (cont). Cottongrass-sedge-dwarf heath shrub complex (Hanson 1953); Tussock dwarf-shrub tundra (Racine and Anderson 1979); 42B- low shrub cottongrass tussock tundra, 60 - lichen tussock tundra (Swanson and Schuman 1985); C2,C8,C19,QC1, QC2,QC45 (Raynolds et al. 2002) (Seward Peninsula). Map Units M11, M14 (Tande and Jennings 1986); Map Unit 71 - lowland moist low-scrub (Jorgenson 2000); Sites BB10-13, MM5,7 (Talbot 1983) (Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta). |
75 (cont). Vegetation type Bigelow's sedge tussock dwarf-shrub tundra (Racine and Anderson 1979); Releves R6,7a,33,37,57,58 (Raynolds et al. 2002) (Seward Peninsula). | |
| 42. Sphagno-Eriophoretum vaginati, Betula nana and Salix pulchra subtypes, shrub-dominated tussock tundra (Walker and Walker 1996) (Imnavait Creek).
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76. 44-shrub lichen upland (Swanson and Schuman 1985); Releve C-C (Raynolds et al. 2002) (Seward Peninsula).
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| 43. Sphagno-Eriophoretum vaginati betuletosum nanae, dwarf shrub on palsas and high-centered polygons (Walker et al. 1994) (Imnavait Creek).
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| 44. Sphagno-Eriophoretum vaginati betuletosum nanae, shrub tundra in warmer mesoclimatic oases along water tracks and in basins (Walker et al. 1994) (Imnavait Creek).
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| 44 (cont). Vegetation Type low-medium shrub thicket (Racine and Anderson 1979); shrub hillside, Map Unit 35 (Swanson and Schuman 1985) Releves C3, C16, QC3, C-C (Raynolds et al. 2002) (Seward Peninsula). Map unit 9 (Talbot et al. 1985) Map Unit M13 (Tande and Jennings 1986) (Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta). |
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| 45. Climacium dendroides-Alnus viridis comm., open alder shrub in warmer mesoclimatic oases of the foothills (Walker et al. 1997) (Happy Valley).
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| 46. Resprouting tussocks with colonizing liverworts and mosses on burned tussock tundra (Racine 1987) (Seward Peninsula).
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| 47. Map Unit 60 lichen tussock tundra (Swanson and Schuman 1985) (Seward Peninsula).
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| 48. Vegetation type dwarf birch-heath-lichens (Hanson 1953); Vegetation type birch dwarf-shrub tundra (Racine and Anderson 1979); Map Unit 32- mixed shrub tundra,44 - shrub lichen upland (Swanson and Schuman 1985); Releve C14 (Raynolds et al. 2002) (Seward Peninsula). Map Unit M11(Tande and Jennings 1986); Map Unit 71, lowland moist low scrub (Jorgenson 2000) (Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta). |
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| 49. Site 63, 32 (Swanson et al. 1986) (Nunivak Island).
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| 50. Map Units 1,3 (Talbot et al. 1985); Map Unit M12 (Tande and Jennings 1986); Map Unit L3 (Wibbenmeyer et al. 1982) (Kuskokwim Mtns.).
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| 51. Alder types; green alder shrub thicket (Hanson 1953); Map Unit 22 -tall shrub hillside (Racine and Anderson 1979); Releves C15,C18,QC25 (Raynolds et al. 2002) (Seward Peninsula). Map Unit 8, subalpine scrub (Talbot et al. 1985); Map Units D2,D5,F1,F2 (Wibbenmeyer et al. 1982) (Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta).
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| Wet sites | 52. Sphagnum orientale-Eriophorum scheuchzeri comm., wet microsites in wet acidic tundra in foothills (Walker and Walker 1996) (Imanavait Creek). |
77. Eriophorum angustifolium-Carex aquatilis comm., nonacidic marshes (Walker and Barry 1991) (Toolik Lake). |
| 53. Sphagnum lenense-Salix fuscescens comm., raised microsites in acidic wetlands (Walker and Walker 1996) (Imnavait Creek).
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78. Salt grass meadow (Racine and Anderson 1979); 51- tidal marsh (Swanson and Schuman 1985) (Seward Peninsula). Map Unit 14 (Talbot et al. 1985), Map Unit M15 (Tande and Jennings 1986; Map Unit 13 (Jorgenson 2000) (Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta).
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| 54. Map Unit 55- cottongrass-water sedge (low-centered polygons) (Swanson and Schuman 1985) (Seward Peninsula).
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| 55. Map Units W1, W8, W9, M9 (Tande and Jennings 1986); Map Unit 24 slightly brackish wet sedge-shrub meadow (Jorgenson 2000) (Yukon-Kuskowkim Delta).
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| 56. Map Unit W10 (Tande and Jennings 1986) (Yukon-Kuskowkim Delta).
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| 57. Sites F1,H2,M2B (Talbot 1983); Map Unit 61 - lowland wet sedge meadow (Jorgenson 2000) ; Map Unit W2e,W3e (Tande and Jennings 1986); Map Units 5,18,22 (Talbot et al. 1985) (Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta). |
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| 58. Map Unit 21, 16 (Talbot et al. 1985); Map Unit W3 (Tande and Jennings 1986) (Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta).
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| 59. Map Unit 5, 22 (Talbot et al. 1985); Map Unit W3e, W4 (Tande and Jennings 1986) (Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta).
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| 60. Map Unit 23 (Talbot et al. 1985) (Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta).
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| 61. Type 52 (Swanson et al. 1986) (Nunivak Island).
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| Snow beds | 62. Carex microchaeta-Cassiope tetragona comm., early-melting acidic snowbeds (Walker et al. 1994) (Imnavait Creek).
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79. Dryas integrifolia-Cassiope tetragona comm., early-melting nonacidic snow beds (Walker et al. 1994) (Toolik Lake).
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| 63. Salix rotundifolia-Saxifraga nivalis comm., late-melting snow beds (Walker et al. 1989) (Imnavait Creek).
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80. Salix rotundifolia-Saxifraga nivalis comm., late-melting snow beds (Walker et al. 1989) (Toolik Lake).
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| 64. Four-angled heather-blueberry type (Hanson 1953); Releve 2000-CC (Raynolds et al. 2002) (Seward Peninsula).
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81. Early-melting snowbeds, Releve 2000-C-D (Raynolds et al. 2002) (Seward Peninsula).
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| Riparian areas | 65. Valeriano-Salicetum planifoliae ass. nov. (Schickhoff et al. 2002); Eriophorum angustifolium-Salix pulchra comm., acidic to circumneutral water tracks, streamsides (Walker et al. 1994) (Imnavait Creek).
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82. Epilobio latifolii-Salicetum alaxensis ass., active floodplains (Schickhoff et al. 2002) (Toolik Lake). |
| 66. Salicetum glauco-richardsonii ass. prov., willow shrublands on stable floodplains (Schickhoff et al. 2002) (Imnavait Creek).
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83. Dryas integrifolia-Lupinus arcticus comm., dry river terraces (Walker et al. 1997) (Toolik Lake); Dryas terrace comm. (J.C. Jorgenson, 2005 pers. com.) (Arctic NWR).
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| 67. Climaceum dendroides-Alnus viridis comm., alder shrublands floodplains (Walker et al. 1997) (Happy Valley).
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84. Salicetum glauco-richardsonii ass. prov., willow shrubland on stable floodplains (Schickhoff et al. 2002) (Toolik Lake).
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| 68. Map unit 34-low shrub - floodplain (Swanson and Schuman 1985) (Seward Peninsula).
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85. Climaceum dendroides-Alnus viridis comm., alder shrubland on floodplains (Walker et al. 1997) (Happy Valley).
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| 69. Vegetation type tall willow thicket (Racine and Anderson 1979); Map unit 82 - riverwash (Swanson and Schuman 1985) (Seward Peninsula).
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| 70. Map unit W2e (Tande and Jennings 1986); Site G5, 9, 12, 14; MM6, 005, V3 (Talbot 1983) (Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta).
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