Happy Valley Permanent Vegetation Plots

Walker, D.A., Auerbach, N.A., Nettleton, T.K., Gallant, A., Murphy, S.M. 1997. Happy Valley Permanent Vegetation Plots: Site factors, physical and chemical soil properties, plant species cover, photographs, soil descriptions, and ordination. Arctic System Science Flux Study, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.

Home // Preliminary vegetation classification // Vegetation communities and sites // Legend for environmental variables // Environmental data // Relevé size, percent cover // Soils data // Relevé species data //
Appendices: Field descriptions of soils // Plot and soil photos // Plot location map

Table 2. List of vegetation communities and sites sampled in 1994

PDF - MS Excel

Plot No.Plant CommunityMicrosite
HV-1Dry
Dryas integrifolia, Arctous rubra, Salix glauca, Lupinus arcticus,
dwarf shrub, forb tundra
Fluvial terrace between runway and road.
HV-2Dry
Dryas integrifolia, Lupinus arcticus, Rhododendron lapponicum, Cetraria cucullata,
dwarf-shrub forb tundra
Fluvial terrace, nearer to road than runway.
HV-3Aquatic
Comarum palustre, Sparganium hyperboreum, Calliergon giganteum,
forb marsh
Small pond, 100 m east of Dalton highway, just north of Happy Valley camp.
HV-4Moist
Alnus viridis, Salix lanata, Equisetum arvense, Climacium dendroides,
low-shrub tundra
Floodplain, 150 m west of runway near Happy Valley camp.
HV-5Moist
Alnus viridis, Salix lanata, Vaccinium vitis-idaea,
low shrubland (riparian)
Floodplain on creek, very shrubby, 200 m west of runway, bottom of hill below road.
HV-6Dry
Dryas integrifolia, Lupinus arcticus, Tomentypnum nitens,
dwarf shrub, forb tundra
Fluvial terrace 100 m west of runway across Dalton highway from Happy Valley camp.
HV-7Dry
Epilobium latifolium, Hedysarum alpinum, Salix alaxensis,
forb, barren tundra
Rocky river bar.
HV-8Dry
Castilleja caudata, Hedysarum alpinum,
forb, barren tundra
Rocky floodplain.
HV-9Wet
Carex saxatilis, Carex aquatilis,
graminoid meadow
Edge of pond by gravel pad.
HV-10Dry
Dryas integrifolia, Arctous rubra, Rhododendron lapponicum, Lupinus arcticus,
dwarf shrub, forb tundra
Fluvial terrace, near old camp.
HV-11Dry
Salix alaxensis, Shepherdia canadensis, Arctous rubra,
tall shrubland (riparian)
Tall shrub floodplain with stabilized alluvium.
HV-12Wet
Salix planifolia, Petasites frigidus, Equisetum arvense,
low-shrub tundra
Water track on shoulder of bluff overlooking Sagavanirktok river, 2 km south of camp.
HV-13Moist
Salix glauca, Salix lanata, Arctous rubra, Lupinus arcticus, Hylocomium splendens,
forb, low-shrub tundra
Bluff overlooking Sagavanirktok river, 0.5 km north of access road, 2 km south of camp.
HV-14Dry
Salix alaxensis, Castilleja caudata, Hedysarum alpinum,
low-shrub, forb tundra
Rocky floodplain of Sagavanirktok river. 0.5 km north of access road, 2 km south of camp.
HV-15Moist
Salix lanata, Salix glauca, Arctous rubra, Abietinella abietina,
low-shrub tundra
Bluff overlooking Sagavanirktok river, north of access road, 2 km south of camp.
HV-16Dry
Castilleja caudata, Hedysarum alpinum, Salix alaxensis,
forb tundra
Rocky floodplain on Sagavanirktok river, north of access road, near Peregrine nest, 2 km south of camp.
HV-17Moist
Dryas integrifolia, Cassiope tetragona, Lupinus arcticus,
dwarf shrub, forb tundra (snowbed)
Snowbed on bluff overlooking Sagavanirktok river, south of access road.
HV-18Moist
Salix alaxensis, Salix lanata, Equisetum arvense, Hedysarum alpinum,
low-shrub tundra
Floodplain, south of access road, stablize soil.
HV-19Dry
Salix glauca, Arctous rubra, Festuca altaica, Hedysarum alpinum, Abietinella abietina,
shrubland
River bluff overlooking Sagavanirktok river, south of access road.
HV-20Moist
Sphagnum sp., Hylocomium splendens, Eriophorum vaginatum, Betula nana,
tussock-graminoid, dwarf-shrub tundra
South hill crest of toposequence, 1 km north of Happy Valley camp.
HV-21Moist
Hylocomium splendens, Carex bigelowii, Eriophorum vaginatum, Salix planifolia,
tussock-graminoid, dwarf-shrub tundra
South shoulder of toposequence, 1 km north of Happy Valley camp.
HV-22Moist
Cassiope tetragona, Dryas integrifolia, Salix glauca, Betula nana, Vaccinium uliginosum, Drepanocladus sp., Hylocomium splendens, Ptilidium ciliare,
dwarf-shrub tundra
Side slope of north-facing toposequence, 1 km north of camp- snowbed.
HV-23Moist
Dryas integrifolia, Equisetum arvense, Salix glauca,
horsetail, low-shrub tundra
Foot slope on north-facing toposequence, 1 km from Happy Valley camp.
HV-24Moist
Salix lanata, Equisetum arvense, Petasites frigidus, Dodecatheon frigidum, Climacium dendroides,
low-shrub tundra (riparian)
Toeslope of toposequence, 1 km north of Happy Valley camp.
HV-25Moist
Betula nana, Petasites frigidus, Sphagnum squarrosum,
low-shrub tundra (riparian)
Shrubby floodplain, north of creek, south-facing toposequence 1 km west of Happy Valley camp.
HV-26Moist
Eriophorum vaginatum, Betula nana, Sphagnum girgensohnii,
tussock-graminoid, dwarf-shrub tundra
Foot slope, south-facing toposequence, 1 km north of Happy Valley camp, 400 m west of Dalton Highway.
HV-27Moist
Betula nana, Salix planifolia, Eriophorum vaginatum, Sphagnum angustifolium, Aulacomnium turgidum,
dwarf-shrub, tussock-graminoid tundra
Side slope of south-facing toposequence, 1 km north of Happy Valley camp, 400 m west of Dalton Highway.
HV-28Moist
Eriophorum vaginatum, Betula nana, Aulacomnium turgidum, Hylocomium splendens, Sphagnum sp.,
dwarf-shrub, tussock-graminoid tundra
Side slope of south-facing toposequence, 1 km north of Happy Valley camp, 400 m west of Dalton Highway.
HV-29Moist
Eriophorum vaginatum, Betula nana, Sphagnum sp., Aulacomnium turgidum,
tussock-graminoid, dwarf-shrub tundra
South-facing toposequence, 1 km north of Happy Valley camp, 400 m west of Dalton Highway.
HV-30Moist
Carex bigelowii, Eriophorum vaginatum, Betula nana, Petasites frigidus, Arctagrostis latifolia, Hylocomium splendens, Sphagnum sp.,
tussock-graminoid, dwarf-shrub tundra
Hill crest of south-facing toposequence, 1 km north of Happy Valley camp, 400 m west of Dalton Highway.
HV-31Moist
Carex bigelowii, Tomentypnum nitens, Dryas integrifolia, Salix glauca, Cetraria cucullata,
graminoid, dwarf-shrub tundra
Hillslope, 300 m west of Happy Valley camp, 25 m northwest of gridpoint 7671900N, 426800E.
HV-32Moist
Eriophorum vaginatum, Betula nana, Ledum palustre, Ledum palustre ssp. decumbens, Sphagnum angustifolium,
tussock-graminoid, dwarf-shrub tundra
Water-track transect on top of hill, 500 m southwest of Happy Valley camp.
HV-33Moist
Betula nana, Rubus chamaemorus, Ledum palustre ssp. decumbens, Ledum palustre, Sphagnum sp.,
dwarf shrub, moss tundra
Hummocky area at east end of water track toposequence, 500 m southwest of Happy Valley camp.
HV-34Wet
Eriophorum angustifolium, Betula nana, Sphagnum squarrosum,
graminoid, dwarf-shrub tundra
Water-track in middle of water-track transect, 500 m south west of Happy Valley camp.
HV-35Moist
Betula nana, Ledum palustre, Ledum palustre ssp. decumbens, Rubus chamaemorus, Aulacomnium turgidum,
dwarf-shrub tundra
West side of water-track transect, raised portion west side of main drainage channel of water track, 500 m south west of Happy Valley Camp.
HV-36Moist
Betula nana, Sphagnum angustifolium, Sphagnum warnstorfii,
low-shrub tundra
Water-track transect, west side of major drainage, 500 m southwest of Happy Valley camp.
HV-37Wet
Carex aquatilis, Eriophorum angustifolium, Salix planifolia, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum angustifolium, Betula nana,
graminoid, low-shrub tundra
Water-track transect, west drainage channel, 500 m southwest of Happy Valley camp.
HV-38Moist
Betula nana, Rubus chamaemorus, Aulacomnium turgidum, Sphagnum angustifolium,
dwarf-shrub tundra
Water-track transect, west margin of water track, 500 m southwest of Happy Valley camp.
HV-39Moist
Eriophorum vaginatum, Betula nana, Sphagnum sp.,
tussock-graminoid, dwarf-shrub tundra
Water-track transect, island on west side of water track, 500 m southwest of Happy Valley camp.
HV-40Moist
Betula nana, Ledum palustre, Ledum palustre ssp. decumbens, Rubus chamaemorus, Aulacomnium turgidum,
dwarf-shrub tundra
Water track, 600 m southwest of Happy Valley camp.
HV-41Dry
Luzula arctica, Anthelia juratzkana,
barren tundra
Frost scar in shoulder of hill slope, 400 m southwest of Happy Valley camp.
HV-42aMoist
Eriophorum vaginatum, Salix glauca, Cassiope tetragona, Aulacomnium turgidum, Dicranum sp., Sphagnum warnstorfii,
tussock-graminoid, dwarf-shrub tundra
Hillslope, 300 m southwest of Happy Valley camp.
HV-42bDry
Luzula arctica, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Arctagrostis latifolia,
barren tundra
Frostscar on hillslope, 300m southwest of Happy Valley camp.
HV-43Moist
Salix alaxensis, Shepherdia canadensis,
tall shrubland
Small island with tall willows, 0.5 km south of Happy Valley camp.
HV-44Moist
Dryas integrifolia, Equisetum arvense, Lupinus arcticus,
forb, dwarf-shrub, moss tundra
Northwest-facing slope at bend in creek, 0.5 km south of Happy Valley camp, 100 m west of Dalton Highway.
HV-45Moist
Dryas integrifolia, Equisetum arvense, Lupinus arcticus,
forb, dwarf-shrub, moss tundra
West-facing footslope 15 m north of grid-point 7671600N 426900E.
HV-46Aquatic
Menyanthes trifoliata,
forb marsh
Southern margin of small lake, 1 km west of Dalton Highway.
HV-47Wet
Carex rotundata, Carex chordorrhiza, Pedicularis sudetica, Sphagnum orientale, Drepanocladus sp.,
graminoid tundra
Southern slope of small lake, wet area between raised hummock, 1 km west of Dalton Highway, 1.5 km northwest of Happy Valley camp.
HV-48Aquatic
Arctophila fulva, Menyanthes trifoliata,
graminoid marsh
Southern margin of small lake, 1 km northwest of Happy Valley camp.
HV-49Wet
Carex rotundata, Carex aquatilis, Andromeda polifolia, Rubus chamaemorus, Sphagnum sp.,
graminoid, dwarf-shrub, moss tundra
Southern edge of small lake, raised hummock area, 1 km west of Dalton Highway, 1.5 km northwest of Happy Valley camp.
HV-50Wet
Sphagnum imbricatum, Carex aquatilis, Betula nana, Andromeda polifolia,
moss, graminoid, dwarf-shrub tundra
Southern margin of small lake, raised hummock area, 1 km west of Dalton Highway, 1.5 km northwest of Happy Valley camp.
HV-51Wet
Carex chordorrhiza, Carex rotundata, Sphagnum orientale,
graminoid tundra
Southern edge of lake, 1 km west of Dalton Highway, 1.5 km northwest of Happy Valley camp.
HV-52Wet
Carex rotundata, Betula nana, Salix fuscescens, Sphagnum sp.,
graminoid, dwarf-shrub, moss tundra
Water track, 5 km west of small lake, 1 km west of Dalton Highway, 1.5 km northwest of Happy Valley camp.
HV-53Wet
Carex aquatilis, Betula nana, Salix fuscescens, Sphagnum angustifolium,
graminoid, dwarf-shrub, moss tundra
Water track, 0.5 km west of small lake, 1 km west of Daltom Highway, 1.5 km northwest of Happy Valley camp.
HV-54Wet
Carex rotundata, Carex chordorrhiza, Sphagnum orientale,
graminoid tundra
0.25 km west of small lake, 1 km west of Dalton Highway, 1.5 km northwest of Happy Valley camp.
HV-55Wet
Sphagnum imbricatum, Carex aquatilis, Betula nana, Andromeda polifolia,
graminoid, dwarf-shrub, moss tundra
Raised hummock area, .25 km west of small lake, 1 km west of Dalton Highway, 1.5 km northwest of Happy Valley camp.

* Plots with soil descriptions and soil analysis for most horizons.
^ Plots with soil analysis for most horizons.
All other plots have soil analysis for horizon at 10-cm depth (rooting zone).