Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Unit W1

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Hierarchy of Geobotanical Vegetation Map Units (Walker DA 2002)

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W1. Sedge/grass, moss wetland

Wetland complexes in the colder areas of the Arctic, dominated by sedges, grasses, and mosses. Subzone B and Subzone C.

Detailed Description

Wetland complexes of Subzones B and C, including water, low wet areas and moist elevated microsites.
Area: 101 x 1000 km².

Representative Syntaxa

Communities of the class Scheuchzerio-Caricetea; e.g., Poo arcticae-Dupontiae fisheri Matv. 1994 (Taimyr Peninsula), Meesio triquetrae - Caricetum stantis Matv. 1994 (Taimyr Peninsula), Eriophoretum scheuchzeri Fries 1913, Caricetum rariflorae Fries 1913, Arctophiletum fulvaeThannh. 1976 (Svalbard), Caricetum stantis Barrett & Krajina 1972.

Dominant Plants

Sedges, grasses, mosses, and forbs. Grasses are more important in Subzone B wetlands than in Subzone C. Elevated microsites have moist graminoid, prostrate dwarf-shrub, forb, and moss tundra species (see also Unit G2).

1. 1. Sedge: Carex aquatilis; Eriophorum triste; Eriophorum scheuchzeri;
   2. Grass: Arctophila fulva; Alopecurus alpinus; Pleuropogon sabinei; Dupontia fisheri; Poa pratensis;
   3. Moss: Calliergon giganteum; Warnstorfia sarmentosa; Cinclidium arcticum; Hamatocaulis vernicosus; Campylium stellatum; Plagiomnium ellipticum; Bryum pseudotriquetrum;
   4. Forb: Cardamine pratensis; Cerastium regelii; Caltha arctica; Bistorta vivipara; Saxifraga cernua; Saxifraga foliolosa; Pedicularis sudetica;
   5. Grass: Pleuropogon; Dupontia; Alopecurus;
   6. Moist graminoid, prostrate dwarf-shrub, forb, moss tundra species: Eriophorum triste; Carex misandra; Carex membranacea; Carex atrofusca; Kobresia simpliciuscula; Salix arctica; Salix reticulata; Tomentypnum nitens;

^a=acidic, ⁿ=non-acidic