Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map
Vegetation Units
Introduction -
Barrens:
B1B1. Cryptogam, herb barren -
B2B2. Cryptogam barren complex (bedrock) -
B3B3. Noncarbonate mountain complex -
B4B4. Carbonate mountain complex ||
Graminoid Tundras:
G1G1. Rush/grass, forb, cryptogam tundra -
G2G2. Graminoid, prostrate dwarf-shrub, forb tundra -
G3G3. Non-tussock sedge, dwarf-shrub, moss tundra -
G4G4. Tussock-sedge, dwarf-shrub, moss tundra
Prostrate-shrub Tundras:
P1P1. Prostrate dwarf-shrub, herb tundra -
P2P2. Prostrate/hemiprostrate dwarf-shrub tundra ||
Erect-shrub Tundras:
S1S1. Erect dwarf-shrub tundra -
S2S2. Low-shrub tundra ||
Wetlands:
W1W1. Sedge/grass, moss wetland -
W2W2. Sedge, moss, dwarf-shrub wetland -
W3W3. Sedge, moss, low-shrub wetland
Canadian shield near Daring Lake (Photo: D.A. Walker).
Select image to enlarge
B2. Cryptogam barren complex (bedrock)
Areas of exposed rock and lichens interspersed with lakes and more vegetated areas, as found on the Canadian Shield. Subzones C and D.
Detailed Description
Bedrock covered with lichens, usually mixed with many lakes and the zonal vegetation. The largest areas are on Precambrian granite and gneiss bedrock of the Canadian Shield, but also in the high elevation areas of Siberia, northeast Asia, Alaska, and Greenland, which are mapped as part of the mountain complex (Unit B3 and Unit B4). Areas between bedrock outcrops commonly have dwarf shrubs and fruticose lichens. Found in Subzones C and D.
Representative syntaxa
Communities of the class Rhizocarpetea geographici Wirth 1980 (Canada, on granite bedrock).
Dominant plants
Saxicolous lichens cover the rock surfaces. Other plants, the grass Hierochloe alpina, and terricolous lichens grow between the bedrock outcrops.
- Saxicolous lichens
- Trees and shrubs
- Grass
- Terricolous lichens
a=acidic, n=non-acidic