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
Qingertivak Fjord, SE Greenland (Photo: F.J.A. Daniëls).
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B3. Noncarbonate mountain complex
Mountain vegetation on noncarbonate bedrock. The variety and size of plants decrease with elevation and latitude. Hatching color and code indicate the bioclimate subzone at the mountain base. B3a through B3e indicate subzones A through E; B3n indicates noncarbonate nunatak areas. For more explanation see reverse side.
Detailed Description
Dry acidic tundra complexes on mountains and plateaus with noncarbonate bedrock. Vegetation changes with elevation in the mountains, forming elevation belts whose vegetation is physiognomically similar to that of bioclimate subzones with comparable summer climate (see Figure 2). The color of the polygon hatch pattern denotes the bioclimate subzone at the base of the mountains. For example B3a occurs in Subzone A, B3b in Subzone B, etc. B3n denotes nunatak areas, with many noncarbonate mountain peaks surrounded by glaciers. Mesic zonal microsites are relatively uncommon. More common are plant communities growing on wind-swept, rocky ridges, screes, and dry fell-fields, alternating with snowbed plant communities.
Representative syntaxa for each elevation belt
Belt a in Subzone B, cf. Papaveretum dahliani Hofm. 1968, in subzones C-E Papaveretum radicatae Dierss. 1992 (both Thlaspietea rotundifolii); Belt b, Carici-Dryadetum integrifoliae Dan. 1982 (Carici-Kobresietea Ohba 1974); Elevation Belt c, e.g., Cassiopetum tetragonae (Böch. 1933) Dan. 1982 (Loiseleurio-Vaccinietea Eggl. 1952 em. Schub. 1960); Belt d, Empetrum-Vaccinium community Dan. 1982 or Empetro - Betuletum nanaeNordh. 1943, and Belt e, Betulo-Salicetum glaucae prov. Dan. 2002 (all Loiseleurio-Vaccinietea) (Greenland).