Alaska Arctic Tundra Vegetation Map
Vegetation Units
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Acidic mountain complexes (Brooks Range). Acidic mountain complex near Mount Doonerak, Brooks Range, Alaska. (Photo: D.A. Walker.)
Introduction
Barren Complexes:
B2.1B2.1 Lichens on Lava (Seward Peninsula) -
B3d.1B3d.1 Acidic mountain complexes (St. Lawrence Is.) -
B3e.1B3e.1 Acidic mountain complexes (Brooks Range) -
B3e.2B3e.2 Acidic mountain complexes (NW Alaska) -
B3e.3B3e.3 Acidic mountain complexes (Kuskokwim Mtns.) -
B4d.1B4d.1 Nonacidic mountain complexes (Seward Peninsula) -
B4d.2B4d.2 Nonacidic mountain complexes (St. Lawrence Is.) -
B4e.1B4e.1 Nonacidic mountain complexes (Brooks Range) -
B4e.2B4e.2 Nonacidic mountain complexes (NW Alaska)
Non-Tussock Graminoid Tundras:
G3.1G3.1 Moist nonacidic tundra (N. Arctic Coastal Plain) -
G3.2G3.2 Moist nonacidic tundra (St. Lawrence Is.) -
G3.3G3.3 Moist nonacidic tundra (Arctic Foothills, Seward Peninsula)
Tussock Graminoid Tundras:
G4.1G4.1 Tussock tundra (entire map) -
G4.2G4.2 Lichen-rich tussock tundra (Seward Peninsula) -
G4.3G4.3 Tussock tundra on sands (Arctic Coastal Plain)
Prostrate Dwarf-Shrub Tundras:
P2.1P2.1 Dry tundra (St. Matthew Is.)
Erect Dwarf-Shrub Tundras:
S1.1S1.1 Shrubby, tussock tundra (NE Alaska) -
S1.2S1.2 Dwarf-shrub, lichen tundra (NW Alaska) -
S1.3S1.3 Dwarf-shrub tundra on volcanic rock (Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta) -
S1.4S1.4 Dwarf-shrub, lichen tundra (Kuskokwim Mtns.)
Low-Shrub Tundras:
S2.1S2.1 Willow-birch tundra (entire map) -
S2.2S2.2 Alder shrublands (entire map)
Wetlands:
W1.1W1.1 Wet acidic coastal complex (N Alaska) -
W1.2W1.2 Wet nonacidic coastal complex (N Alaska) -
W2.1W2.1 Wet acidic complex (N Alaska, Seward Peninsula) -
W2.2W2.2 Wet nonacidic complex (Subzone D, N Alaska) -
W3.1W3.1 Wet acidic complex with tussock tundra (W Alaska) -
W3.2W3.2 Wet acidic complex with dwarf-shrub tundra (lower parts of Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta) -
W3.3W3.3 Wet acidic complex with low-shrub tundra (Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta) -
W3.4W3.4 Wet acidic complex with dwarf-shrub tundra (inland parts of Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta) -
W3.5W3.5 Wet acidic complex (Nunivak Is.) -
W3.6W3.6 Wet nonacidic complex (warmer parts of NW Alaska) -
W3.7W3.7 Wet coastal saline tundra (Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta)
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