Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map

Vegetation Units

Imnaviat Creek, Alaska (Photo: D.A. Walker).
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G4. Tussock-sedge, dwarf-shrub, moss tundra

Moist tundra, dominated by tussock cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum) and dwarf shrubs <40 cm tall. Mosses are abundant. Subzone E, some Subzone D.

Detailed Description

Moist tussock tundra, mainly in Subzones D and E, on cold acidic soils. This is the zonal vegetation in Subzone E on unglaciated landscapes with ice-rich permafrost and shallow active layers, e.g., northern Alaska and Chukotka. Plant cover is nearly continuous (80-100%). The height of the plant canopy varies from about 20-40 cm. A less robust form of tussock tundra grows in Subzone D, with smaller tussock sedges and less abundant and shorter shrubs that do not overtop the tussocks.

Representative syntaxa

Sphagno-Eriophoretum vaginati Walk. et al. 1994 (Alaska); Carici arctisibiricae-Hylocomietum alaskani vicariant of Pinguicula villosa Matv. 1994 (Taimyr Peninsula) (cf. Ledo decumbentis-Betuletalia glandulosae Rivas-Martinez et al. 1999).

Dominant plants

Tussock sedges with other sedges, and prostrate and erect dwarf-shrubs, and mosses. Other common plants include grasses, forbs, and lichens.

• Tussock sedges
  • Eriophorum vaginatum
  • Carex lugens
• Sedges
  • Carex
    bigelowii/arctisibirica/consimilis
  • Eriophorum triste
• Prostrate and erect dwarf-shrubs
  • Ledum decumbens
  • Betula nana/exilis
  • Salix pulchra
  • Vaccinium vitis-idaea
  • V. uliginosum ssp. microphyllum
  • Arctous alpina
  • Rubus chamaemorus
  • R. arcticus
  • Cornus suecica
• Mosses
  • Sphagnum
  • Hylocomium splendens
  • Oncophorus wahlenbergii
  • Aulacomnium turgidum
  • Dicranum
  • Polytrichum
• Grasses
  • Arctagrostis latifolia
• Forbs
  • Pedicularis lapponica
  • P. labradorica
  • Bistorta plumosa
  • Polygonum tripterocarpum
  • Saxifraga nelsoniana
  • Nardosmia frigida
• Lichens
  • Flavocetraria
  • Cladina rangiferina
  • Cladonia amaurocraea

^a=acidic, ⁿ=non-acidic