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
Seward Peninsula, Alaska (Photo: D.A. Walker).
Select image to enlarge
S2. Low-shrub tundra
Tundra dominated by low shrubs >40 cm tall. Subzone E.
Detailed Description
Moist tundra in Subzone E dominated by low shrubs >40 cm tall sometimes on permafrost-free soils. Peatlands with permafrost are common in wet areas. This highly variable unit includes some areas with scattered Pinus pumila "stlaniks" in the Anadyr-Penzhina subprovince, but excludes areas of continuous stlaniks.
Representative syntaxa
Communities of the classes Loiseleurio-Vaccinietea, e.g., Betulo-Salicetum glaucae Dan. 2002 prov. (Greenland), Betulo-Adenostyletea Br.-Bl. et Tx 1943 and Salicetea purpureae Moor 1958.
Dominant plants
Upland areas have mainly oligotrophic hypoarctic shrubs. Thick moss carpets are common in most shrublands. Along drainages and near treeline, low and tall willows and alders are abundant. Salix glauca dominates this zonal tundra in Greenland. Some trees reach into this subzone along the southern river valleys.
- Oligotrophic hypoarctic shrubs
- Moss carpets
- Willows and alders
- Trees
a=acidic, n=non-acidic