Component Projects-Alaska Arctic Tundra Vegetation Map

Alaska Arctic Tundra Vegetation Map

Vegetation Units

Acidic mountain complexes (Brooks Range). Acidic mountain complex near Mount Doonerak, Brooks Range, Alaska

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Acidic mountain complexes (Brooks Range). Acidic mountain complex near Mount Doonerak, Brooks Range, Alaska. (Photo: D.A. Walker.)

B3e.1 Acidic mountain complexes (Brooks Range)

Prostrate dwarf-shrub, graminoid communities (comm. 35, >36) on acidic slopes, in complex with snowbeds (comm. 62, 63), talus slopes and meadow communities. Brooks Range, Subzone E.

Plant Communities:

Community 35:

Vaccinio uliginosi-Salicetum phlebophyllae Assoc. 43, prostrate vegetation of ridgetops on acidic soils (Cooper 1986) (Arrigetch Mtns.).


Prostrate dwarf shrub: Vaccinium uliginosum, Salix phlebophylla, Loiseleuria procumbens, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Dryas octopetala;
Graminoid: Hierochloe alpina, Carex microchaeta; Forb: Androsace chamaejasme;
Moss: Rhacomitrium lanuginosum

Community 36:

Carici scirpoideae-Vaccinietum uliginosi, Assoc. 18 (Cooper 1986) (Arrigetch Mtns.)


Prostrate dwarf shrub: Dryas octopetala, Vaccinium uliginosum;
Graminoid: Carex scirpoidea, Carex microchaeta, Festuca altaica; Lichen: Cladina spp., Flavocetraria spp.

Community 62:

Carex microchaeta-Cassiope tetragona comm., early-melting acidic snowbeds (Walker et al. 1994) (Imnavait Creek).


Hemiprostrate dwarf shrub: Cassiope tetragona;
Prostrate dwarf shrub: Salix phlebophylla, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Pyrola grandiflora, Diapensia lapponica, Ledum decumbens, Vaccinium uliginosum;
Sedge: Carex microchaeta;
Grass: Hierochloe alpina;
Moss: Hylocomium splendens, Aulacomnium turgidum, Dicranum spp.;
Lichen: Flavocetraria cucullata, Flavocetraria nivalis, Nephroma arcticum, Stereocaulon alpinum, Sphaerophorus globosus

Community 63:

Salix rotundifolia-Saxifraga nivalis comm., late-melting snow beds (Walker et al. 1989) (Imnavait Creek).


Prostrate dwarf shrub: Salix rotundifolia