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
Zackenberg, East Greenland (Photo: H.H. Christiansen).
Select image to enlarge
P2. Prostrate/Hemiprostrate dwarf-shrub tundra
Moist to dry tundra dominated by prostrate and hemiprostrate shrubs <15 cm tall, particularly Cassiope. Subzone C.
Detailed Description
Moist to dry tundra in acidic-bedrock portions of Subzone C where hemiprostrate dwarf-shrub (Cassiope tetragona) communities occupy a large portion of the landscape. In nonacidic areas Cassiope communities occur in sites with somewhat deeper than average winter snow cover. In acidic areas, Cassiope communities are dominant on zonal sites. This type is common on granite- and gneiss-bedrock of Svalbard, Greenland, Baffin Island, and Ellesmere Island. Plants cover 40-100% of the surface. The height of the plant canopy is 10-20 cm.
Representative syntaxa
Communities of the class Loiseleurio-Vaccinietea, e.g., Cassiopetum tetragonae (Böch. 1933) Dan. 1982 (Greenland, noncarbonate soil) and Carici-Kobresietea, e.g., Dryado-Cassiopetum tetragonae (Fries 1913) Hadac 1946 (Svalbard).
Dominant plants
Prostrate and hemiprostrate dwarf shrubs, and mosses, rushes, forbs, and lichens.
- Prostrate and hemiprostrate dwarf shrubs
- Mosses
- Rushes
- Forbs
- Lichens
a=acidic, n=non-acidic